Bowel Transit Time A bowel transit time test measures how long
it takes for food to travel through the Reference digestive
tract Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. After you
chew and swallow your food, it moves into your stomach, where it
is mixed with acid and digestive Reference enzymes Opens New
Window. After your food leaves your stomach, it is squeezed
through your small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed for
use by your body. The food then goes into your large intestine
(colon) where water is absorbed. Whatever hasn't been digested
and absorbed by your intestines combines with bacteria and other
waste products and becomes stool (feces). Stool is expelled from
your body through your anus. The time it takes for food to
travel from your mouth through your digestive tract to your anus
is your bowel transit time. Sometimes, just the time it takes
for food to travel through the colon is measured. This is called
the colonic transit time. Bowel transit time depends on what
types of food you eat a