Food transit time is the amount of time our food takes to digest from mouth to anus. Around 24 hours is ideal but in many cases it can longer or shorter.
A few hours either side of the ideal 24 hours is acceptable but many of us have transit times of 50, 60 or even 70 hours. I know from experience at the clinic that many clients defecate only once or twice a week and in some cases every two weeks.
Why should around 24 hours be ideal? If food passes through our system too quickly then nutrients are not absorbed properly and our stools are often loose. If transit time is much longer then stools are lumpy, hard and often uncomfortable to pass. If waste lies in our colon too long then we are polluting every cell, tissue and organ in our body and over time this can cause disease.
Transit time can be tested by eating red beetroot, I say red because yellow varieties are now readily available but these wouldn’t give the same results. Take note of the time the beet is eaten and chew well. Transit time will be revealed when stools take on a slight crimson colour so every time you defecate check to see if any change has occurred.
It is an interesting exercise, honest!