diff --git a/src/d_player.h b/src/d_player.h
index 3e12611b4..12e7648b9 100644
--- a/src/d_player.h
+++ b/src/d_player.h
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ typedef struct player_s
 	INT16 karmadelay;
 	tic_t overtimekarma; // time to live in overtime comeback
 	INT16 spheres;
+	tic_t spheredigestion;
 
 	SINT8 glanceDir; // Direction the player is trying to look backwards in
 
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 8b14be91c..d7d610605 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -7065,12 +7065,32 @@ void K_KartPlayerThink(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 	{
 		// Deplete 1 every tic when removed from the game.
 		player->spheres--;
+		player->spheredigestion = 0;
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		// Deplete 1 every second when playing.
-		if ((leveltime % TICRATE) == 0)
-			player->spheres--;
+		INT16 spheredigestion = TICRATE; // Base rate of 1 every second when playing.
+		INT16 digestionpower = ((10 - player->kartspeed) + (10 - player->kartweight))-1; // 1 to 17
+		spheredigestion -= ((player->spheres*digestionpower)/20);
+
+		if (spheredigestion < 1) // just in case
+		{
+			spheredigestion = 1;
+		}
+
+		if ((player->spheres > 0) && (player->spheredigestion > 0))
+		{
+			player->spheredigestion--;
+			if (player->spheredigestion == 0)
+			{
+				player->spheres--;
+				player->spheredigestion = (tic_t)spheredigestion;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			player->spheredigestion = (tic_t)spheredigestion;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (player->spheres > 40)
diff --git a/src/lua_playerlib.c b/src/lua_playerlib.c
index 17e1a39b1..e323c1e1d 100644
--- a/src/lua_playerlib.c
+++ b/src/lua_playerlib.c
@@ -372,6 +372,8 @@ static int player_get(lua_State *L)
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->karmadelay);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"spheres"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->spheres);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"spheredigestion"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->spheredigestion);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"pflags"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->pflags);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"panim"))
@@ -714,6 +716,8 @@ static int player_set(lua_State *L)
 		plr->karmadelay = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"spheres"))
 		plr->spheres = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"spheredigestion"))
+		plr->spheredigestion = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"kartspeed"))
 		plr->kartspeed = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"kartweight"))
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index 0561d365a..5852b3695 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(void)
 		WRITEINT16(save_p, players[i].karmadelay);
 		WRITEUINT32(save_p, players[i].overtimekarma);
 		WRITEINT16(save_p, players[i].spheres);
+		WRITEINT16(save_p, players[i].spheredigestion);
 
 		WRITESINT8(save_p, players[i].glanceDir);
 		WRITEUINT8(save_p, players[i].tripWireState);
@@ -597,6 +598,7 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(void)
 		players[i].karmadelay = READINT16(save_p);
 		players[i].overtimekarma = READUINT32(save_p);
 		players[i].spheres = READINT16(save_p);
+		players[i].spheredigestion = READINT16(save_p);
 
 		players[i].glanceDir = READSINT8(save_p);
 		players[i].tripWireState = READUINT8(save_p);