These Are The Foods That Besides Being Difficult To Digest, May Lead To Other Problems (2024)

These Are The Foods That Besides Being Difficult To Digest, May Lead To Other Problems (1)

Complete digestion of food may take around 24 to 72 hours.

Highlights

  • For a healthy digestion you must eat a balanced diet
  • Fried foods are difficult for your digestive system to process
  • Skimmed milk and low-fat cheese takes about an hour and a half to digest

Digestion is the process where the body breaks down the food into tiny pieces to absorb them into the blood stream. Complete digestion of food may takearound 24 to 72 hours. It also depends upon several factors like the type of food eaten, the portion size, physical health, metabolism, age or even some digestive problems could slow the process of digestive. Water, juices or other drinks are the simplest and take less time to digest. On the other hand, complex food takes longer time to digest. Fatty foods also take a lot of time to digest. But there are some foods that make you hungry quickly while others make you feel fuller for a longer period of time. Want to know which foods take the longest time to digest? Have a look!

Also read:Do You Know The Many Amazing Benefits Of Raw Papayas? Good Digestion, Weight Loss And Much More

These foods may take a long time to digest:

1. Packaged and processed foods

These foods are hard to digest as they are packed with saturated fat, sodium, nitrates, chemicals and other preservatives make it difficult to move through your digestive system. Usually these foods take 3-4 hours to digest. French fries, fatty foods, candies, processed meat and even some breakfast cereals contain certain ingredients that the human body struggles to digest

2. Certainvegetables

Some vegetables that are high in water like lettuce, celery, watercress, asparagus, cucumber, skin of bell peppers, tomatoes and radishes digest in around half an hour. Whereas cooked leafy and cruciferous vegetables such as kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower take approximately 40-50 minutes to digest. Root vegetables like turnips, beetroot, sweet potatoes, radishes and carrot digest in an hour. Starchy vegetables such as corn, parsnips, winter squash, pumpkin, squash, yams, butternut, peas, sweet potatoes, potatoes and chestnuts digest in 60 minutes.

3. Dairy products

Consumption of dairy can also lead to certain conditions in which a person is unable to digest either the sugar or proteins that are present in the milk. This common condition is called as dairy intolerance or lactose intolerance. Consumption of dairy in such conditions can cause undesirable symptoms such as abdominal bloating, diarrhea, bloating, gas, skin rashes, hives, acne, cramps, irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut. Skimmed milk and low-fat cheese takes about an hour and a half to digest.

These Are The Foods That Besides Being Difficult To Digest, May Lead To Other Problems (2)

Consumption of dairy can also lead to certain conditions in which a person is unable to digest either the sugar or proteins that are present in the milk.
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read:Top 6 Home Remedies That Can Help Speed Up Your Digestion

4. High-fiber foods

Although high fiber foods are extremely healthy, they can be a bit difficult for your body to digest. This means that they are not broken down completely and absorbed into the bloodstream. Eating plenty of fiber, especially if you eat all at once, could lead to digestive issues like bloating and gas.

5. Fried foods

Fried foods are also difficult for your digestive system to process. They are oily, greasy and high in fat, which can lead to stomach issues. Instead you could opt for healthy cooking options like steaming, baking, roasting and grilling.

Also read:Constantly Facing Gut Issues And Indigestion Problems? Chronic Stress Could Be The Culprit!

For a healthy digestion you must eat a balanced and a high-fiber diet. Also, engage in regular physical activity, reduce stress and if you are suffering from any digestive issues manage them.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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These Are The Foods That Besides Being Difficult To Digest, May Lead To Other Problems (2024)

FAQs

What foods cause digestive problems? ›

High-fat foods

Deep-fried foods contain a lot of fat, but so do a lot of other foods that aren't fried. Heavy cream, butter, and fatty meats, such as bacon, can all be very hard to digest, which can result in cramps, bowel issues, and other digestive issues.

What happens when food is hard to digest? ›

Undigested food in your stomach can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar. Bezoars can cause nausea and vomiting and may be life-threatening if they prevent food from passing into your small intestine. Unpredictable blood sugar changes.

What is difficulty in digesting food called? ›

Difficulty in the digestion of food is called indigestion. It occurs as a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, or gall bladder disease. It causes abdominal pain, belching gas, nausea and vomiting. So, the correct answer is 'Indigestion'.

What 3 foods are bad for your gut? ›

13 Foods to Avoid in a Gut Health Diet
  • Sugar. Refined white sugar may have a particularly bad reputation, but it turns out that sugar in any of its forms is potentially harmful to your gut health. ...
  • Processed Foods. ...
  • Soy. ...
  • Dairy. ...
  • Red Meat. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Feb 20, 2019

What are digestive problems caused by? ›

Many factors can upset your GI tract and its motility (ability to keep moving), including: Eating a diet low in fiber. Not getting enough exercise. Traveling or other changes in routine.

What to do when your body can't digest food? ›

Eat smaller meals more often. Try four to six per day instead of three. Reduce fat and fiber in your diet, which take longer to digest. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs, which delay gastric emptying.

What food takes the longest to digest? ›

Meat and fish can take as long as 2 days to fully digest. The proteins and fats they contain are complex molecules that take longer for your body to pull apart. By contrast, fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber, can move through your system in less than a day.

What is the hardest nutrient to digest? ›

Carbohydrates followed by protein & fats; proteins are probably a little harder to digest, but fat has more energy per unit weight than both protein and carbs.

How to tell if you're not digesting food properly? ›

There are four main signs which indicate that you may not be digesting your food well, these are:
  1. Visible food chunks. If you can recognise bits of dinner that are now in the loo, then you definitely didn't digest that! ...
  2. Greasy looking stools. ...
  3. Acid reflux and indigestion. ...
  4. Bloating and wind. ...
  5. 36 Comments.
Aug 24, 2020

Why am I not fully digesting my food? ›

Sometimes, you may see undigested food fragments in stool. This usually is high-fiber vegetable matter, which usually isn't broken down and absorbed in your digestive tract. At times, undigested food is a sign of poor chewing and fast eating. Make sure that you chew your food well.

Why is my body suddenly rejecting food? ›

It's normal to not like certain foods. Food aversion causes you to reject a specific food because your brain tells your body that it's inedible. It also causes your body to react negatively by feeling nauseous or gagging, at the sight, scent or taste of the food.

What is it called when your body can't digest food types? ›

Gastroparesis is a stomach disorder. It happens when your stomach takes too long to empty out food. The food can also harden into solid masses (bezoars). They may upset your stomach or create a blockage in your stomach.

What disease is unable to digest food? ›

Gastroparesis, also called gastric stasis, occurs when there is delayed gastric emptying. Delayed gastric emptying means the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Sometimes, when the food doesn't empty properly, it forms a solid mass called a bezoar.

What is the term for difficult or poor digestion? ›

Indigestion (dyspepsia) - feeling of nausea, bloating, gas, and/or heartburn caused by poor digestion.

What foods heal your gut? ›

Gut Health Foods - 15 Foods For Good Gut Health
  • Yoghurt. Live yoghurt is an excellent source of so-called friendly bacteria, also known as probiotics. ...
  • Kefir. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Sauerkraut. ...
  • Kimchi. ...
  • Sourdough. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Olive oil.

What are the worst foods for your colon? ›

Some foods to avoid to lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer include:
  • Red meat.
  • Processed meats.
  • White bread.
  • Sugary beverages.

How can I fix my digestive system? ›

Gut health and diet
  1. Eat a high fibre diet. Fibre is important for our gut health for many reasons. ...
  2. Eat a diverse range of food. ...
  3. Limit ultra-processed foods. ...
  4. Drink water. ...
  5. Eat foods rich in polyphenols. ...
  6. Eat slowly. ...
  7. Eat fermented foods.
Mar 23, 2023

What are 3 things that can go wrong with the digestive system? ›

Common digestive disorders include gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance and hiatal hernia.

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