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 are foods that are difficult to digest? ›

The Worst Foods for Your Gastrointestinal System
  • Deep-fried foods. Deep-fried foods absorb copious amounts of fats — oil, shortening, or lard — during the cooking process. ...
  • Processed foods. ...
  • High-fat foods. ...
  • Coffee. ...
  • Spicy foods. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Citrus fruits. ...
  • Chocolate.

What foods can cause digestive problems? ›

By avoiding high-fat foods, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, processed and sugary food, individuals with digestive problems can reduce the likelihood of experiencing symptoms such as bloating, gas, heartburn, and stomach pain.

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 are things in food that we Cannot digest called? ›

Roughage, or fiber, refers to the carbs in plants that your body cannot digest. This article uses the terms roughage and fiber interchangeably. Once roughage reaches your large intestine, it's either broken down by your gut bacteria or exits your body in your stools ( 2 ).

What 3 foods are bad for your gut? ›

As part of healthy eating, it's a good idea to avoid or limit foods packed with added sugar, which feeds bad bacteria, Blatner says, as well as highly processed foods, artificial sweeteners, red meat, and alcohol, which can have a negative effect on gut bacteria, and lead to inflammation.

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.

How to clean out bowels quickly? ›

To cleanse the colon, experts recommend drinking 6 to 8 cups of warm water per day. In addition, you should also eat plenty of foods with a high water content, including fruits and vegetables like watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce, and celery.

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 do you reset your digestive system? ›

Consume a whole-foods, plant-based (WFPB) diet that provides the fiber, all the essential nutrients, and antioxidants for a strong gut, healthy immune system, and healthy you. Exercise regularly to boost good digestion and good bacteria in the gut.

Do you poop normally with gastroparesis? ›

Gastroparesis patients have a high rate of slow transit constipation by radiopaque marker studies than patients with symptoms of gastroparesis with normal gastric emptying (4). Fourth, perhaps constipation and delayed colonic transit could be the primary problem with a secondary delay in gastric emptying.

Why is my poop not fully digested? ›

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.

What to eat when your body rejects everything? ›

The bottom line

Choosing smaller, nutrient-packed meals or snacks (like smoothies, soups, or yogurt with fruit and granola) can ensure you're still getting important nutrients that your body needs to work properly until you regain your appetite.

What foods are hardest to digest? ›

Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.

What foods irritate the gut? ›

The Top 10 Foods To Avoid for a Healthy Gut
  • Processed foods. Processed foods are high in additives, preservatives, and unhealthy fats, which can harm your gut microbiome.
  • Refined sugar. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Dairy products. ...
  • Fried foods. ...
  • Red meat. ...
  • Artificial sweeteners. ...
  • Alcohol.
Apr 14, 2023

What foods should I avoid to reduce inflammation? ›

Foods that can be inflammatory: Highly processed foods, like corn chips, fried foods and too much red meat, sugar, wheat, rye and barley in people with gluten allergies of celiac disease.

What are the top 10 easiest foods to digest? ›

11 foods that are easy to digest
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Sweet potatoes. ...
  • Chicken. ...
  • Salmon. ...
  • Gelatin. Hospitals often serve gelatin desserts after surgery. ...
  • Saltine crackers. Some people find that plain saltine crackers help settle nausea, for example, during pregnancy. ...
  • Oatmeal. Saltine crackers are a highly processed food.

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 are the symptoms of bad digestion? ›

The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Bleeding.
  • Bloating.
  • Constipation.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Heartburn.
  • Incontinence.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Pain in the belly.
Dec 31, 2023

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