High School

What kind of meal increases gastric emptying time (i.e., slows emptying rate) the most?

A. High-carbohydrate meal
B. High-fat meal
C. Spinach salad
D. Egg salad sandwich
E. Stir-fried vegetables and rice

Answer :

Final answer:

A high-fat meal increases gastric emptying time the most.

Explanation:

The kind of meal that increases gastric emptying time the most (i.e., has a slow emptying rate) is a high-fat meal.

Foods heavy in carbohydrates empty the fastest, followed by high-protein foods. However, meals with a high triglyceride content, which are found in high-fat meals, remain in the stomach the longest.

For example, when the duodenum is processing fatty chyme, food can stay in the stomach for 6 hours or longer. This is due to the fact that enzymes in the small intestine digest fats slowly.