Digestion is a complex process and everyone digests food at a different pace. The digestive system needs some time to break down meat and other proteins. There are also many factors that impact how long chicken takes to digest, including how large the meat pieces are, how fatty they are, how it was cooked, what else is eaten with it, and more.
Skinless chicken breasts are the easiest to digest, as they contain less fat than drumsticks or thighs. Fried or roasted chicken is harder to digest, as the protein may be tougher and take longer for stomach acids and enzymes to break down. It is important to chew your food well and drink plenty of water with meals, as this helps the digestion process. Adding probiotics to your diet (such as kimchi, tempeh, and yogurt) is also helpful for digestion.
When eating chicken, try to eat it near other easy-to-digest foods, such as greens, whole grains, and fruits. These foods can help speed up digestion. Additionally, it can be beneficial to marinate the chicken in acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar, which will break down proteins and make them easier to digest.
The digestive process begins in the esophagus, where enzymes begin to break down protein and fat. After the chyme mixture moves to the stomach, gastric acid and enzymes like pepsin continue breaking down protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The chyme then moves to the small intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs. Undigested material moves to the colon, where beneficial bacteria help break down any remaining undigested nutrients and toxins before they are eliminated from the body in feces.