Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s the Average Digestion Time?Possible Digestive ProblemsHow to Balance Slow or Fast Digestion TimeFoods That Take Longer to DigestFoods That Digest QuicklySeeing a Provider to Manage Digestive ProblemsSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What’s the Average Digestion Time?
Possible Digestive Problems
How to Balance Slow or Fast Digestion Time
Foods That Take Longer to Digest
Foods That Digest Quickly
Seeing a Provider to Manage Digestive Problems
Summary
Digestion is the process of the body breaking down food into substances that the bloodstream can absorb.Digestion time refers to how much time passes between consuming food and eliminating it in a bowel movement.
The average digestion time is about 23 to 37.4 hours but can range from 10 to 73 hours, depending on the food you ate and other factors such as sex, age, lifestyle, and anymedical conditions.
This article will look at average digestion times, factors that might influence digestion, ways to balance fast or slow digestion, foods that digest slowly or quickly, and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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The time it takes from when food enters your mouth until it’s eliminated from your body in a bowel movement is your total digestion time, also referred to as “whole gut transit time.” The average digestion time is about 23 to 37.4 hours but varies depending on what foods you consume, your age, sex, and other factors.
It’s important to note that different foods do not move through the digestive system at the same rate and that foods eaten simultaneously will take different lengths of time to digest.
On average, food takes two to five hours to empty from the stomach, two to six hours to pass through the small intestine, and 10 to 59 hours to transit through the large intestine before a bowel movement eliminates it from the body.
Influencing Factors
Female hormones can also affect digestion time. Digestion is longer during thesecondorthird trimesterof pregnancy and during theluteal phaseof menstruation, when progesterone levels are high.Other factors that can influence digestion time include:
A Word From Verywell
—ALLISON HERRIES, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Medical conditionsthat can affect digestion time include:
Foods high infiber,protein,complex carbohydrates, andfatstake longer for the body to break down, and consuming these foods can help slow digestion time.Processed foods, especially if they’re fried or fatty, are hard for the body to digest. Cutting back on these foods can also help promote healthy digestion.
Foods that are high infiber, complex carbohydrates,protein, and fats take longer to digest but are also typically rich in nutrients. They include:
How Long Does Digesting Red Meat Take?Digestingred meatusually takes 24 to 72 hours to digest. Leaner meat with less fat is usually digested faster than fattier meat.
How Long Does Digesting Red Meat Take?
Digestingred meatusually takes 24 to 72 hours to digest. Leaner meat with less fat is usually digested faster than fattier meat.
Foods high in simple carbohydrates are digested quickly but also often lack vitamins, minerals,fiber, and other nutrients. They include:
Though having occasional digestive problems isn’t unusual, you should contact a healthcareprovider if you experience:
Average total digestion time can vary greatly among individuals, and foods vary in how long they digest. Women typically take longer to digest food than men. Other factors like age, physical activity, medications, and stress affect digestion.
Certain medical conditions can also make digestion slower or faster. Eating a nutritious diet, exercising, and getting enough fluids promotes healthy digestion. You should consult a healthcare provider if you’re having continued trouble with digestion, ongoing abdominal pain, or other digestive symptoms that interfere with daily life.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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