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How long can poop stay in your colon?

It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. All in all, the whole process — from the time you swallow food to the time it leaves your body as feces — takes about two to five days, depending on the individual.

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How long does it take to digest food — from the time you eat it to the time you excrete it? Answer From Elizabeth Rajan, M.D. Digestion time varies among individuals and between men and women. After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food. It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. All in all, the whole process — from the time you swallow food to the time it leaves your body as feces — takes about two to five days, depending on the individual.

With Elizabeth Rajan, M.D.

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Are your bowels ever completely empty?

Your Colon Is Never Empty Many people believe they have emptied out their colons after multiple episodes of diarrhea or that they can keep their colons empty by avoiding food. However, since stool is made up in large part of bacteria, fecal matter is continuously being formed. 4 days ago

Your colon plays a vital role in digestion. It's an important part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which makes up the digestive system. By the time food reaches the colon, it's already through most of the digestion process. The colon's main role is to absorb water, vitamins, and electrolytes from partially digested food after it goes through the small intestine. Then, your colon prepares your body to get rid of the waste by passing stool (poop). Taking the mystery out of your colon will help you better identify signs of common colon problems and help you feel more comfortable talking about this hard-working body part with your healthcare provider. The following facts will help re-acquaint you with your colon. You'll learn where your colon is, how long your intestines are, the function of the large intestine, and even how much poop is in your body.

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