How Long Does It Take to Digest Food

Nom noms go in, poop comes out… but what happens in between? Digestion is how your body turns food into fuel. On average, the process takes 24 to 72 hours, but how long it takes for your body to digest food will depend on factors like: what you eat- how much you eat- digestive issues metabolism and activity levels.

Once food enters your mouth, it can take between two to six hours to hit your small intestine in a process known as gastric emptying. From there, the food will be digested for between two to six hours before going to your large intestine. This is where the food spends the longest amount of time, as it can take anywhere from 10 to 59 hours to pass, explains nutritionist Mackenzie Burgess, RDN.