Digestion time varies widely but generally follows this timeline:

• Food takes about 6 to 8 hours to pass through the stomach and small intestine.
• After that, it enters the large intestine (colon), where it can take about 36 hours to move through.
• Overall, the entire digestion process-from eating to elimination-typically takes about 2 to 5 days, depending on the individual

More detailed breakdowns include:

• Gastric emptying (stomach to small intestine): 0 to 6 hours, with liquids leaving faster and denser foods (high in protein or fat) taking longer-up to 2 to 4 hours or more

• Small intestinal transit: approximately 2 to 8 hours

• Colonic transit (large intestine): can range widely, often 10 to 59 hours or more, and is the longest phase

Factors influencing digestion time include:

• Type of food: Simple carbohydrates digest faster (30–60 minutes in stomach), while protein- and fat-rich foods take longer

• Individual differences: age, sex, genetics, metabolism, health conditions (e.g., IBS, Crohn’s), medications, and stress levels all affect digestion speed

• Gender differences: Women generally have longer large intestine transit times than men

In summary, digestion typically takes about 24 to 72 hours, but can range from 10 hours up to 5 days depending on various factors