How long does it take for food to digest?

And why are some foods more difficult to digest than others?

How long does food take to digest?

Merrell Readman

From there, the food will be digested for betweentwo to six hoursbefore going to your large intestine.

Fiber

“Thefiber content1of a food impacts how quickly it’s digested,” explains Burgess.

“Foods higher insoluble fiberform a gel-like substance in the stomach, which slows down the digestive process.

Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN

Both types of fiber are important to consume regularly, explains Ferira.

“Soluble fiber feeds gut bacteria, which then produce substances that cansupport a healthy gut microbiome2.”

Ferira agrees, adding that, “consumingprebiotic fiberregularly directly fuels postbiotic abundance via fermentation processes in the gut.

Not to mention the health benefits the wide array of phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables also deliver.”

“Studies showthat exercise may improve gut health in many ways,” says Burgess.

To aid digestion, focusing on eating a nutrient-dense diet with plenty of fiber.

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3 Sources