Contents:
- Medical Video: The Digestive Process - University of Michigan Health System
- How long is the food digested by the stomach?
- What happens when food is digested in the body?
- Tips to keep digestion smooth and normal
Medical Video: The Digestive Process - University of Michigan Health System
Maybe you only spend about 10-30 minutes eating your food every day. However, do you know how long food is digested and is in your stomach? Yes, the food you eat will indeed go through the digestive process so that you can get all the nutrients in it. So how long is the food digested in the body?
How long is the food digested by the stomach?
The digestive process has begun to occur when food is in the mouth. From there, the food will be crushed by the teeth, palate, and inner cheeks so that the stomach is easier to digest further. Everyone has a different digestive system and response to food. This makes everyone need a different digestive time.
In addition, the choice of food also affects how long food is digested in the body. Foods that contain high protein, will stay longer in the stomach than fibrous foods such as vegetables or fruits.
However, in general the food you consume takes 6-8 hours to pass through the stomach to the small intestine. After that, the food will enter the large intestine, then absorb all the nutrients. Finally, unused food scraps will be removed through the anus (rectum) - this is when you will defecate.
The entire digestive process will take at least 24 to 72 hours, depending on what food you consume and how quickly your digestive organs work. According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the average digestion time of men is around 33 hours and women are approximately 47 hours.
What happens when food is digested in the body?
When food is digested, there are actually various processes that occur at that time. Food is initially crushed and cut into smaller pieces for easy digestion. This work is carried out by the first digestive organ, the mouth.
After that, the food goes into the throat and goes straight into the stomach. The stomach has its own fluids and enzymes to make food "break" and make it smaller. Starting from here, the food you eat will be transformed into a substance that is simpler and formed into pulp.
Well, then this food porridge will enter the small intestine. Starting from here, nutrients will be absorbed by the body and will be directly channeled to the blood vessels. Meanwhile, the last job is in the large intestine which will absorb the remaining nutrients that have not been absorbed. When there are no more nutrients left, the body will be released directly through the anus.
Tips to keep digestion smooth and normal
Diarrhea and constipation (difficult bowel movements) is a condition where your digestion has a disorder. This of course will make the food in your stomach will stay longer in there or even very fast and not even have time to digest. Well, to avoid these conditions, you should do the following tips.
- Expand to eat fibrous foods. Fibrous foods will make it easier to work your intestines, because fiber does not need to be broken down many times.
- Avoid and limit packaged foods and red meat. Packaged foods and red meat are foods that are difficult to digest, so they can interfere with your digestion and make you constipated.
- Add probiotic food to the food menu. Foods that contain probiotics such as yogurt are good for bacteria in your stomach, so digestion will be more smooth.
- Don't forget to exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep and manage stress well
When you feel bloating or pain in the stomach, it also indicates that something is wrong with your digestion. If the symptoms don't disappear, you should immediately see a doctor.
