What happens when food is digested too quickly?

From the moment we put food into our mouths, it takes about thirty to fifty hours for the digestive process to complete. Depending on age and biological sex, the duration of the digestive process can vary. Food spends hours being processed in the stomach, small, and large intestines before being eliminated as waste. In the stomach alone, it may take six to eight hours for food to be processed before passing on to the small intestine. This sounds like a long time, especially when we spend just seconds chewing our food. It is very important that food spend adequate time in each of the digestive organs to properly break down and utilize the nutrients in our food.

If someone's digestive tract moves too quickly, foods may not be broken down properly. This person may then see pieces of food in their stool. Additionally, food that isn't broken down well isn't properly used by the body. All of the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats of food have to be transformed by stomach acid, bile, and bowel activity in order for our bodies to really use those nutrients. If someone experiences too-fast digestion, they may become malnourished because their body isn't making proper use of the food they eat.