Food Digestion Time

Digestion involves breaking down of food particles into small molecules, mixing the food with necessary enzymes, absorbing the essential nutrients into the bloodstream through the intestinal lining, and eliminating the undigested food residue through the large intestine. It may take about 24 hours for the food to go through all these processes. And after a few weeks only, no traces of food will be found in the body; as it takes several days for complete elimination of the food. Food digestion time varies from person to person, depending upon the type of food and the overall health of the person.

Human Digestive System

You won't believe, but just anticipation of eating can trigger the intestinal tract and it may start preparing for the job coming its way! Colorful dishes and wafting aroma can trigger salivation and they can thus stimulate your appetite. So, it can be said that the process of digestion begins in the brain! Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum and anus are some of the important parts of the digestive system. The journey of food begins in the mouth and ends at the anus. For most healthy adults, food digestion time (time required for digestion, absorption and elimination) is usually between 24-36 hours.

Usually, within six to eight hours, the food passes through the first part of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and small intestine. From there, the food is passed over to the large intestine (colon). After further digestion and absorption of water, the undigested food is thrown out of the body through anus. Gastrointestinal tract is a 15 feet long elasticized tube (from mouth to anus). When you eat a harmful substance, it is pushed back out through the mouth (vomiting) or quickly thrown out of the body through the anus (diarrhea).

Slow and Fast Digestion of Food

Slow digestive system indicates wrong diet or stomach problems. Digestive system disorders can be experienced due to improper eating or other health issues. Usually, physical selection of food depends upon the visual and olfactory cues. Eyes and nose are also the organs that are used in the process of digestion. After churning the food with the help of the tongue and the teeth, you swallow the food. The involuntary nervous system then manages the process of digestion. The swallowed food reaches the stomach within 8-10 seconds. Liquids reach the stomach within one second! The stomach can hold up to two quarts of food.

The time required to digest the food depends upon your mood too. In the stomach, digestive enzymes are released in higher quantity if you like the food and if you are in a state of contentment and happiness. Production of gastric juices is curbed in case of intense pain, fear, or depression. Decreased quantity of enzymes is also noticed after consumption of large meals or large amounts of fat. Thus, secretion of digestive enzymes depends upon a number of factors, for example, how you chew the food, whether the food is attractive, etc. It also depends upon your mood and emotions.

The rate at which the stomach empties is quite slow: about 3/100 ounce per each peristaltic wave (muscle contractions of the alimentary tract which help move the food). The rate of muscle contraction is three waves per minute. So, when you consume two pounds of food, it takes up to five hours to move the food from the stomach to small intestine. The stomach empties fast when you are on a liquid diet, as you consume only water and liquids. The emptying time of the stomach depends upon the type of food consumed. Carbohydrates are digested more quickly than proteins. Proteins take less time to leave the stomach than fats. Food digestion time also varies among the carbohydrates themselves to a great extent. The digestive processes that the food undergoes are different for different types of food and so the time taken to leave the stomach varies according to the type of food. Moreover, healthy food combination promote fast digestion. A high fiber diet and adequate consumption of water helps prevent constipation, improves colon function and thus helps improve your digestive health. The following table describes the approximate time taken by different types of food to leave the stomach.

Time Taken By Foods to Leave the Stomach

Food	Held in Stomach for Minutes	Food	Held in Stomach for Minutes
Parsley	75	Lemon	90
Irish Moss	90	Grapes	105
Avocado	105	Mango	105
Raspberry	105	Tomato	120
Blueberry	120	Orange	120
Raisins	120	Brown Rice	120
Potato	120	Garlic	120
Fresh Fig	135	Fresh Pear	135
Strawberry	135	Cauliflower	135
Asparagus	135	Pineapple	135
Carrot	135	Almond	150
White Rice	150	Leek	150
Mushroom	150	Blackberry	150
Dry Fig	150	Dandelion	150
Fresh Peach	150	Bean	150
Okra	150	Gooseberry	150
Lima	150	Date	150
Apple	165	Apricot	165
Beat	165	Wheat Bran	165
Plum	165	Watermelon	165
Chestnut	165	Banana	180
Walnut	180	Broccoli	180
Soybean	180	Lentil	180
Wheat Germ	180	Sweet Corn	180
Peanut	195	Cucumber	195
Onion	195	Eggplants	210
Dried Green Peas	210	Eggplants	210
Persimmon	225	Wheat	225
Brussels Sprouts	240	Turnip	240

You may keep a high fiber foods list handy; as it includes foods that keep your colon healthy and foods that promote regularity. Certain changes in your lifestyle and diet can help improve your digestive health.