How Long Does It Take to Digest Fruits?

Wondering how much time it will take to digest different types of fruits? Do you want to find out what fruits are the easiest to digest and what fruits you should avoid if you have digestion issues? Let’s get into more details!

Before we start, it is important to mention that digestion time can’t be exact as it depends on a lot of factors like your health of the digestive system, age, gender, your lifestyle, how physically active you are, if the fruits are eaten raw or cooked and so on.

Because of all these factors, the digestion of the fruits can vary from 20 minutes to a few hours.

How Long Does It Take to Digest Fruits?

The quickest fruit you can digest will be the watermelons, followed by melons, bananas, and grapes which will take, on average, around 30 minutes.

If we take fruits with seeds like apples, kiwis, and pears, your stomach will need around 40-45 minutes to digest them.

Quick Note: As we said, the digestion time may vary from many factors, and it will be different from one body to another.

Are Fruits Hard to Digest?

The fruits are considered relatively easy to digest as, on average, your body will need only 30-40 minutes to digest them.

As all the bodies are different, you may find that someone encounters problems with a specific fruit while others don’t have any problems with them.

Because of that, it is important to listen to your body and to pay attention to how it will react when you eat different fruits.

Quick Note: You may take a step further and note in a journal or in your smartphone how much time fruits take to digest, specifically in your case.

Here are a few fruits example and their digestion time:
Apples are a good source of fiber and will be digested in around one hour to be fully digested.

Bananas are a good source of potassium and will be digested in around 30 minutes, making them one of the quickest fruits your body can digest. Especially ripe bananas. However, bananas contain a sugar called fructose, which may be more difficult for some people to digest.

Oranges are a good source of vitamin C and can be digested in around 30-40 minutes if you don’t have problems digesting fructose.

Grapes are a good source of antioxidants. They can be digested in around 40-45 minutes if you don’t have issues digesting fructose or tannins, which can irritate the digestive system and cause symptoms for some people.

Watermelon is a good source of hydration as it contains mainly water and sugar. Our stomach will need around 30 minutes to digest the watermelon.

Pineapples are another good source of vitamin C that can be digested relatively easily. Our digestive systems will digest them in around 30-45 minutes.

A benefit of pineapple is that it contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps break down proteins and aid digestion.

Mango. If you’re looking for a great source of vitamin A, then you should consider adding more mango to your diet. It is digested relatively easily, and your body will need only 40 minutes on average to digest it.

Pears. They are a great source of fiber, and they can be digested in about 45 minutes.

Blueberries. Want to remain healthy? Consider eating more blueberries, as they are a good source of antioxidants. Your digestive system will need around 30 minutes to digest them.

Quick Note: It’s important to note that the digestion times listed above are approximate only. The final time depends on an individual’s digestive system and other factors.

How to Digest Them Faster?

If you’re looking to digest fruits faster, you may follow the tips below that will help reduce the digestion time of the fruits, even if you have the same difficulties with digestion.

Consider eating ripe fruits. As they are softer and have fewer compounds that can irritate your digestive system, they will digest a lot faster.

Chew thoroughly. If you are eating fruits with a hard texture, like apples, consider chewing them thoroughly. Doing that will help your stomach break down the sugars and compounds from the fruits. Also, after chewing, the pieces of the fruits will be smaller in the stomach, and it will extract the nutrients from the fruits.

Eat in moderation. Avoid eating too much fruit at once, as you can put a strain on your digestive system and may cause symptoms.

Fruits are lower in fiber. If you know that you have a slow digestive system, prioritize those fruits that are lower in fiber or contain fewer compounds that can cause digestive problems.

Do They Slow the Digestion Process?

As there are a lot of fruit variations, they will have different effects on your digestive system. Some will slow digestion, while others may speed up the digestion process.

Do you need to eat a few fruits that digest quickly? Pick a few bananas, oranges, or watermelons. Are you looking for some fruits that will slow down digestion and give you the feeling of fullness for a longer period? Consider eating some apples or pears.

Are Fruits Good for Your Gut?

Yes, they have a good impact on your gut as they are rich in different vitamins, especially vitamin C. Many fruits are also rich in fiber, which will maintain your gut and promote regular bowel movements, which will prevent constipation and other digestive problems.

Also, worth mentioning that fruits are a good source of antioxidants that will reduce inflammation in the body. Also, if you eat more bananas, they contain prebiotics that feeds good bacteria in the gut.

How Many Fruits Should You Eat a Day?

According to the USDA’s dietary guidelines, adults should eat 1-2 cups of fruit daily. The exact amount depends on age, gender, and level of physical activity.

Quick Note: While fruits are a rich source of nutrients and vitamins, we should keep in mind that they are also a great source of sugar, and if we consume them in large quantities, we can start gaining unwanted weight.

Eating fruits in excess may lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea. This happens because fruits contain a sugar called fructose which is more slowly absorbed and metabolized than other sugars.

Because of that, consider eating fruits (and other food) in moderation without any excesses.

How to Speed Up Digestion?

If you have a slow digestive system but want to add more fruits to your daily healthy diet, consider eating them on an empty stomach. By doing that, there will be less competition in the stomach, and they will be digested faster.

Consider eating ripe fruits because they are softer and contain less cellulose, a type of indigestible plant fiber.

And last but not least, eat fruits alone without combining them with other ingredients.

Can They Cause Digestive Problems?

A few issues you can have with eating fruits are if you will eat them in large quantities, which may be a shock for your stomach and will cause bloating, gas, or stomach pain.

Another reason may be that you are sensitive, so some special aspects, like your stomach, have issues with fiber. If that is your case, consider reducing the number of eaten apples or pears.

Also, it may be difficult for some people to digest fruits rich in fructose, like bananas or grapes.

If you notice that you are getting stomach discomfort from citrus fruits or grapes, this may also happen because they contain compounds called tannins that may irritate your digestive system.

As our digestive systems are all different, it is important to pay attention to how our bodies react when we eat different fruits. If you are experiencing different digestive issues, consult your nutritionist to find the cause and how you can avoid that in the future.