How Long Does THE Digestion Of Food Take?

​Digestion is a complex process involving different components of the body.  Food may take hours to days to travel through the digestive tract, with some foods taking longer than others to digest.  Supplements and probiotics may also affect digestion time.  Apart from diet, lifestyle changes, such as sleep and exercise, could be helpful ways to improve digestion.

How Long Does The Digestion Of Food Take?
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

When your gut works well, digestion is probably not something to consider.  But if things are out of whack, you may wonder what is causing digestive symptoms and how to improve things.

Digestion can seem like a mysterious process.  After consuming food, it disappears in the body and comes out completely different on the other end.  So, how does the process work, and what can be done differently to keep it running efficiently?
 
How long does it take to digest food?
The digestive process is a cooperative effort among different body parts, each having its role.  The entire digestion process can take anywhere from 10 hours to 3 days.
To fully understand, it is best to look at the complete process:

• Mouth:  Chewing helps to break down food into smaller pieces, and saliva starts breaking down the starch and fat.
  
  
• Esophagus:  A tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.  Once you swallow the food and it goes into the esophagus, the digestive process goes on autopilot.  It means that the different body parts do their jobs automatically. 
  
  
• Stomach:  The stomach squeezes the food and mixes it with acids and enzymes to break it down.  This process may take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours.  It then leaves the stomach in a mixture called "chyme."
  
  
• Small intestine:  Next is the small intestine, in which digestive enzymes from the pancreas and gallbladder mix with chyme.  These enzymes help break down fats and proteins, and they also help in the removal of toxins and regulate blood sugar.  The small intestine can absorb all the nutrients in 2 to 6 hours.
  
  
• Large intestine:  Although most nutrients have already been absorbed through the small intestine, the large intestine absorbs the remaining vitamins and water.  Its primary function is to take the waste and turn it into stool.  Because the large intestine is shorter than the small intestine but is more significant in diameter to absorb water better, it is the slowest part of the digestive tract.  It can take 10 to 60 hours to complete its function.
  
  
• Rectum:  The final part of the large intestine.  It is where stool is stored until you are ready to pass a bowel movement.

 
Which food products are best for digestion?
Foods eaten can affect how your body can digest them.  Some foods are more accessible to break down than others.  But speedy digestion is not always good.  Quickly digested foods can lead to unwanted side effects, such as gas and bloating or spikes in blood sugar. 
 
Foods that slow digestion
Certain foods are hard to break down into nutrients the body can absorb.  These types of foods will typically take longer to go through the digestive system:

• Greasy or fatty foods:  High-fat foods always take more time to digest.  Most nutrient absorption takes place in the small intestine.  That is why this step takes more time after a fatty meal.
  
  
• Meat:  Meat and high-protein foods take less time to digest than fatty foods but more time to digest than carbohydrates.
  
  
• Fiber:  A high-fiber diet is an essential part of gut health.  Although fiber can speed up the total digestion time, it slows down the stomach and small intestine steps.

 
Foods that speed up digestion
Certain foods quickly move the digestive tract and speed up digestion:

• Spicy foods:  Capsaicin is a chemical that gives spicy foods their "heat."  This chemical triggers receptors in the digestive tract that speed up digestion.  It is an excellent example of how foods that speed up digestion time can have uncomfortable side effects such as acid reflux.
  
  
• Sugar substitutes:  Several sugar-free sweeteners, like sorbitol or xylitol, can speed up digestion.  Because the body cannot absorb sugar substitutes, large quantities may lead to unwanted side effects, such as diarrhea and bloating.
  
  
• Caffeine:  Drinks like coffee and tea can also decrease the total gut transit time.  It works mainly on the large intestine to move things along more quickly.
  
  
• Water:  Healthcare professionals recommend drinking plenty of water, but few studies prove it speeds up digestion in otherwise healthy people.  But drinking more water can help prevent constipation for those who are dehydrated.

 
Can supplements improve digestion?
Many individuals are curious if supplements can help improve digestion.  The following are some of the popular options and what the science indicates:

• B vitamins:  The intestine and healthy bacteria in the gut need these vitamins for normal function.  Research shows that people with lower B vitamin levels may have more digestion trouble.
  
  
• Probiotics:  These are bacteria that typically live in the intestinal tract.  Healthy bacteria help with digestion and can reduce digestion time.  Probiotic substances may have different amounts and types of bacteria, but they are usually safe for those with a healthy immune system.
  
  
• Magnesium:  High and low magnesium levels can significantly affect digestive health.  A common side effect of magnesium supplements is diarrhea, which is why people use them to treat constipation.  Magnesium may be unsafe for those with kidney disease or taking certain medications.
  
  
• Digestive enzymes:  Most supplements combine pancreatic and liver enzymes to assist digestion.  Research shows that they help with diarrhea, bloating, and gas.
  
  
• Ginger:  Generations of people have used ginger to help with nausea and vomiting.  It can be helpful in small amounts.  Too much could trigger heartburn and diarrhea.
  
  
• Peppermint:  This herb helps with abdominal discomfort.  On a small number of people, high amounts of peppermint made heartburn symptoms worse.
  
  
• Chamomile:  Long believed to help with baby colic and stomach upset, there is no proof it works.
  
  
• Licorice:  Many people are using licorice as a laxative.  There is, however, no solid evidence to say whether or not it is effective.  In small quantities, licorice appears to be safe.  In substantial amounts, people can experience severe side effects, such as high blood pressure, low potassium, or even premature births.

 
Lifestyle changes improve digestion.
Many things can affect your digestion beyond the food and supplements you take.  Some of these simple changes may seem insignificant, but they can make a big difference in your gut health:

• Chew well:  When you take the time to chew your food thoroughly, you make it easier for your stomach and small intestine to do their tasks.
  
  
• Remain in an upright position:  Remain upright during and after meals to keep things moving in the right direction.  Do not eat within 3 to 4 hours of bedtime to allow your stomach time to digest its contents.
  
  
• Get plenty of sleep:  Findings indicate that people with healthy sleep patterns tend to have fewer problems with gas or abdominal pain.
  
  
• Reduce your stress level:  Stress may speed up or slow down digestion.  It may also cause more issues with reflux and abdominal pain.  Reducing your stress level will help you feel best.
  
  
• Get exercise:  Moderate exercise is good for your gut.  Motion helps your digestive tract to keep moving.  Too much exercise can work the opposite way and slow things down.