When is digestion slowest

Gastric juices, acidic fluids, and enzymes breakdown your food at a molecular level and turns it into a creamy paste called chyme. At the start of your small intestine, fluids lubricate the chyme and neutralize its acidity. Enzymes further break the chyme down and digest the proteins, fatty acids, and carbohydrates present.

These smaller molecules are then able to absorbed by the body into the bloodstream. Those components are passed into the large intestines. The large intestines then extract water and electrolytes from the indigestible food matter. And then send it further down the tube.

Which sends a response for your body to head to the bathroom. The foods with the longest time to digest are bacon, beef, lamb, whole milk hard cheese, and nuts. This article details all you…. The digestive system is essential to helping your body break down food so it can retrieve nutrients and vitamins while also getting rid of waste….

For expert advice on how to eat healthier and get the nutrients you need, check out these top healthy eating books. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. All About Digestion. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Digestion process Digestive problems Tips Takeaway How long it takes to digest food. What happens during digestion. Possible digestive problems.

Tips for better digestion. The takeaway. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD. Should You? Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Medically reviewed by Katie Mena, MD. Preventing Digestion Problems. The Best 12 Healthy Eating Books of the Year For expert advice on how to eat healthier and get the nutrients you need, check out these top healthy eating books.

Muscles move food and liquid along the digestive tract in a wave-like movement called peristalsis. Pregnancy hormones can affect the digestive system. The hormone progesterone, which causes smooth muscle relaxation, often causes relaxation and slowing of digestion in the stomach and the small and large intestines.

The gallbladder is also affected with delayed emptying. That can increase the chances of gallstone formation. Many of the digestive discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness nausea or vomiting , constipation, and heartburn are all related to the relaxed tone and slowed action of the digestive system. Speeding up your metabolism to burn calories is a separate process.

The only time you should try to speed up your digestion is under the doctor's advisement and guidance. This may happen if you have irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel syndrome, says Gluckman. While you can't speed up your digestion, you can ensure your digestive tract is working smoothly by eating a healthy diet. Here are five tips to improve your digestion:. It takes food about four to six hours to digest through the body and into the large intestine, where it then sits for 36 hours as it makes its way to the rectum.

Factors such as age, gender, and pregnancy can decrease this speed. However, there is no reason for trying to speed up digestion unless instructed by a doctor. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App.