Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted April 17, 2025
I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?”
Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross.
A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not.
Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time this journey takes—from first bite to elimination—reveals a lot about your overall digestive health.
As food travels through your body, it passes through several organs, each with a specialized job.
- Your stomach breaks down food with powerful acids and enzymes.
- The small intestine absorbs essential nutrients.
- Finally, the large intestine extracts water and prepares waste for elimination.
This entire process is called digestive transit time and it varies considerably from person to person. Healthy transit times typically range from half a day to over three, with most people averaging around 24 hours.
What makes this process work efficiently? A key factor is your gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria in your digestive system.
These microscopic helpers assist with breaking down food and producing beneficial compounds that regulate digestive movements and support your immune system.
You can measure your own transit time at home using corn.
The tough outer shell of corn kernels is made of cellulose, which humans can’t digest. This makes corn an ideal visual marker for tracking how quickly food moves through your system.
Here’s how to do it:
- Eat a small portion of corn with a meal
- Make note of when you consumed it
- Observe when you notice corn appearing in your stool
- Calculate the hours between consumption and appearance
This simple observation can help you understand whether your digestion falls within typical ranges. If your transit time seems particularly fast (under 12 hours) or slow (over three days), you should talk to your doctor about it.
Understanding your digestive transit time provides valuable insights into your gut health.
If your transit time is optimal (around 24-48 hours), you can continue doing what you’re doing. If it’s too fast (under 12 hours), try adding more soluble fiber from foods like oats and apples to slow things down. For an overly slow transit time (over three days), increase water intake, add insoluble fiber from vegetables and whole grains, and incorporate gentle movement like walking after meals.
Monitor changes in your transit time after making changes so you can fine-tune your diet to reach the ideal digestive balance.
P.S. Let it go—experience the unexpected freedom of “Fart Walks.”
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED
By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...
Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory
You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...
Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer
We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....
Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer
“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....
Sleepless Nights? Beware of this Deadly Danger
We all have that friend who brags about their four-hour-a-night sleep schedule like it’s some kind of superpower. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” they proclaim while chugging their third energy drink of the morning. Well, science has bad news for these sleep-skimping show-offs. You might be accelerating your appointment with the Grim Reaper far more...
Drive-Thru Disaster Hits Fast Forward on Aging
Ever wonder why some of your high school classmates look like they’re aging much faster while others seem frozen in time? It’s not always just good genes or expensive creams—it could be what they’re ordering at the drive-thru. A troubling new study revealed that a fast-food habit doesn’t just expand your waistline—it fast-forwards your biological...
The “Salty” Truth About Your Mood
You know salt gets a bad rap for raising blood pressure. But what if I told you it might be messing with your mood, too? According to a new study out of China, eating too much salt could trigger depression—not just through vague “bad diet” effects, but by activating specific immune cells in the brain....
Ancient Herb Has a Modern Secret for Youthful Skin
You can spend hundreds—maybe even thousands—on anti-aging creams, lotions, and potions that promise to turn back the clock. But let’s be honest… most of them do little more than moisturize and smell nice. Now, a new study is turning that entire anti-aging skincare industry on its head—and the secret comes from an herb that’s been...
Let It Go—The Unexpected Freedom of “Fart Walks”
Ever notice your walk sometimes comes with some, well… unexpected sound effects? One step, two step, POOT! There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for this natural phenomenon. Passing gas on your daily stroll is totally normal—and it means your digestive system is working well. Here’s what’s happening… Walking and other physical activities stimulate your digestive tract,...
Common Antidepressants Linked to Silent Brain Damage
If you’re among the millions taking prescription antidepressants, I have some concerning news. A major study has uncovered a disturbing link between common antidepressants and a growing brain problem. And if you’re taking an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), you may find yourself in the crosshairs. Swedish researchers recently uncovered this troubling connection. They found...