Gastric Transit Time

Gastric Transit Time

Gastric transit time refers to how long it takes for food and drink to move through your digestive system, from the stomach to the intestines and eventually to the colon.

This process is unique to each individual and can be influenced by many factors, so the times given below are general guidelines rather than exact rules.

• Small intestine: Food typically leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine within 1–2 hours.
• Colon: From there, it usually takes 3–8 hours for material to pass into the colon.

Why Transit Time Matters

Understanding your own gastric transit time can help you make sense of your breath test results and your digestive symptoms. For example:

• If food moves quickly, you may notice gas production (and possible discomfort) sooner after eating.
• If food moves slowly, reactions may not appear until several hours later, which can make it harder to connect symptoms to specific foods.

Factors That Influence Gastric Transit Time

Gastric transit isn’t the same every day. Several lifestyle and health factors can speed up or slow down digestion:

• Food type: Fatty meals tend to slow things down, while high-fiber or liquid meals may pass through more quickly.
• Stress: High stress can disrupt normal motility and may either slow or speed up digestion.
• Sleep quality: Poor or irregular sleep can affect the digestive rhythm.
• Exercise: Gentle movement (like walking) often supports healthy motility, while intense exercise may temporarily slow digestion.
• Medications: Certain medications (e.g., painkillers, antacids, or antibiotics) can impact how quickly food moves through your system.

Tracking Transit Time with the FoodMarble App

Because so many factors play a role, we recommend logging your meals, symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medications in the FoodMarble app. This makes it easier to spot patterns—such as whether late-night meals or stressful days affect your digestion differently. Over time, these insights can help you better understand your gut health and identify what works best for you.

Updated on: 17/08/2025