Do Fatty Foods Take Longer to Digest Than Starchy Foods?
When you reach for a snack, you hope it will hold you over until your next meal and fuel your energy stores. Because it takes longer to digest, consuming a little fat can help you stay full, while quicker digesting starches (carbohydrates) keep you revved.
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Features of Digestion
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Digestion is the process of breaking food down so that its various components can be used by the body. Carbohydrates (starches) spend the least time in the stomach, while fats take the longest time to digest.
Digestion of Fat
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Digestion of both saturated and unsaturated fats begin in the small intestine and liver enzymes work to break up the fat molecules. This process may take up to six hours.
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Digestion of Starches
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The digestion of carbohydrates (simple and complex) begins with saliva and then continues in the small intestine. Because the molecules of starches are less complex, they take less effort to digest.
Considerations
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Fast digesting carbohydrates like white breads and sugar convert to glucose quickly and spike insulin levels. Unless you use these immediately (say in an endurance sport), the spikes can cause inconsistent energy levels and weight gain. Slow digesting starches, like vegetables and whole grains, take longer for the body to break down and provide more consistent energy stores. Regardless of the type of starch, fats always take longer to digest.
Expert Insight
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The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study in 2007 finding that a high protein, high fat and low carb diet helped people lose more weight than other diets. A reason for this could be that fat (and protein) take longer to digest, leaving you feeling full longer.
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