Whether talking about it competitively or casually, swimming has always had a flurry of misconceptions that have been floating around for years. Most of these myths are purely made from misunderstandings of what the body goes through during extensive periods of submersion. There is Scientific proof that not only clears up these false claims but also highlights swimming as a great way to get exercise.
One such myth is one that most of us heard at one point when we were kids. You need to wait an hour after eating so that you don’t cramp up in the water. This myth comes from the assumption that your body will take up energy to digest the food, leaving your arms and legs to become exhausted. The truth is that your body can execute both these functions without any form of cramping.
A mistake many people make when swimming is holding their breath underwater. Holding your breath does not extend your time and instead builds up carbon dioxide, which leaves you gasping for air. Instead, swimmers should slowly release their breath from their nose and mouth to regulate oxygen.
Another myth is the belief that people are bound to never learn how to swim if they didn’t figure it out as a kid. Not only is this not true, but adults who learn how to swim later in life usually become better swimmers than those who have been swimming since children. Because an adult’s mind is more task-oriented and focused, they usually learn things much faster and take action to fix any weaknesses they have. There are many more myths about swimming, but most of them can be busted by the many experts in the sport. Swimming is a great sport to take part in and shouldn’t be avoided because of silly misconceptions.
