QUESTION: Digestion, how long does it take? How long does it take to digest food — from the time you eat it to the time you excrete it in stool?
ANSWER from Michael F. Picco, M.D: Digestion time varies depending on the individual. For most healthy adults, it’s usually between 24 and 72 hours. After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion and absorption of water. Elimination of undigested food residue through the large intestine usually begins after a total of 24 hours. Complete elimination from the body may take several days. More if you’ve eaten a large quantity, or eaten heavy foods. You digest much more slowly with an overloaded system. Water is crucial to keep everything in motion. Continue reading