How long does it take for food to be converted to energy. I know the digestion process starts from the mouth, but im not sure if any energy is released from there.

I take it the GI of carbs dictates the amount of energy being released over time, high GI > more energy in a short space of time and low GI > less energy at any one point but more spaced out.

I guess what im asking is whether you get energy from the moment you start eating or when it hits your stomach (unsure of whether it takes 3hrs till it reaches the gut or whether it takes that long for food to be completely digested).

Walking to the gym would be good for me as warmup and relatively taxing cv, but I want to have the energy straight after for weights. So I was wondering if I could get something to eat before I leave, so my body is still in a fasted state (during walking) and then when I get to the gym (an hour later) it will have converted the food I had eaten to energy for weights?

Does that make any sense? :whistle:

I'd like to hear some answers on this subject also.

I had asked a question like this and many touched base but didn't hit it head on.

I'm taking anatomy and physiology II in college and will try to get an answer tomorrow while in class. In the meantime, I was doing a search and found thisDigestion, absorbtion, and energy value of carbohydrates (http://www.fao.org/docrep/w8079e/w8079e0k.htm) , I skimmed through it, but don't think it gives a specific time.

Much appreciated if you can. :tu:

it does take a little while ( depends on the food) from ~15mins to a few hours.

let me try understand.
-you wan't to walk to the gym in a fasted state
-then have energy to workout.

i dunno sounds pretty complicated to me.
i reckon you wan't to eat a while before you go so that you have good energy in the gym without a heavy gut feeling.

~vovo

I can workout on a full or empty stomach, its never been an issue for me.


let me try understand.
-you wan't to walk to the gym in a fasted state
-then have energy to workout.

Yep thats it.
But i get the impression, that the food I'll eat will be changed right away, so when walking there, i'll not be in a fasted state and will also have used some energy getting there ultimately affecting weight performance.

It does depend on the food and how much the digestive system has to break it down. Complex carbohydrates will obviously take longer to break down than simple carbohydrates. The foods that you may get energy from in an hour, is pastas and the like. Other than that it takes a few hours for the body to feel the benefits of energy. It takes about twenty minutes alone, for the brain to realize that the stomach is full. Most digestion/absorbtion actually happens in the small intestines.
Any energy you may feel right away would most likely be reserves. Since your body has been fed, the brain gives the ok to release energy that is needed. Hope this helps.

I'm sure this has been asked before but this seems like a good thread to ask again.How long will your body store carbs before it is converted to fat?

I understand the whole glcogen conversion thing,I'm reffering to fat.

Someone please answer this.