Digestion is something we all do, but we don’t normally think about it. After all, digestion is an automatic process — we can’t control it the same way we control the movements of our arms and legs.

However, there are some ways we can help our digestive systems function as optimally as possible. To start, we must first understand the digestive system, how it works, and how long it takes to digest food.

How Does Digestion Work?

The digestive tract is a long collection of organs and body parts that work together to digest food. Digestion isn’t just about eating food and eliminating it — it’s about what happens along the way. The digestive process relies on each organ to do its part so that the body can extract nutrients from the food.

Some of the most important parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) include: 

• Mouth: Your teeth help break food down into smaller, more easily digestible bites. At the same time, saliva makes food soft and easy to move thanks to digestive enzymes.
• Esophagus: The esophagus helps the food move down into the stomach. Within the esophagus, the esophageal sphincter is what opens and closes to let through undigested food.
• Stomach: The stomach contains stomach acid, which further breaks down the food and makes it easier to pass.
• Pancreas: The pancreas makes digestive juices that contain more enzymes. These enzymes help break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• Gallbladder: This organ stores bile in between digestive cycles. Bile is made in the liver and helps break down stubborn pieces of food.
• Small Intestine: The small intestine absorbs water and nutrients from the food, using muscle contractions to move it along.
• Large Intestine: Finally, the food passes into the large intestine, which is where good gut bacteria further breaks down the food and ferments soluble fibers.

How Long Does It Take To Digest Food?

In general, the overall time it takes to digest food is between one to five days. Obviously, there’s a lot of room for variation.

To get more detailed, the total transit time of your food depends largely on the type of food you eat and any medical conditions that could be affecting your digestion time. 

For instance, gastroparesis is a condition that slows gastric motility (the ability of your digestive system to process food). Similarly, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the natural rhythm of your gut muscle, which can either speed or slow your digestion. On the other hand, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease cause digestion to go too fast.

Having slow digestion can show up in a few different ways, depending on what you eat and how your body reacts. For instance, slow digestion can result in fewer bowel movements, bloating, abdominal pain, and indigestion.

How Can You Support Digestive Health?

Digestion isn’t a conscious process, so you can’t focus really hard and make it go faster. That said, you can make some lifestyle choices that support a healthy digestive system.

Take Probiotics

Your large intestine is home to good gut bacteria that help make enzymes to support the digestive process. You can support these good guys by taking a probiotic supplement or eating fermented foods.

Eat Plenty of Fiber

Fiber (specifically soluble fiber) is like food for your good gut bacteria. It helps keep your gut microbiome strong and diverse.

You can get fiber from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and some legumes. Just be careful — eating too much fiber can cause constipation. If you feel backed up, physical activity is one way you can help food move through your digestive tract.

Try Mushroom Coffee

Mushroom coffee contains functional mushrooms that can support many areas of wellness, including digestion. For instance, Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee+ contains lion’s mane, which can support a balanced digestive tract, and chaga mushroom, which is full of fiber.

Lion’s mane can also support healthy stress levels, which may help resolve some stress-related digestive issues. Plus, our mushroom coffee is oh-so-easy to make — simply combine it with hot water, and your morning cup of joe is ready to go!

The Bottom Line

Digestion is the process your body uses to break down and extract nutrients from food. Overall, digestion can take one to five days, although it depends on what you eat and your unique health profile.

Luckily, you can support digestion by taking probiotics, eating plenty of fiber, and trying mushroom coffee. To learn more about digestion and how you can support it, visit the Everyday Dose blog today.

Sources:

Your Digestive System & How it Works | NIH

Gastroparesis - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Probiotics | healthdirect.gov

Bile: What It Is, Where It’s Made & What It Does | Cleveland Clinic