Doctor Explains What It Means If You Always Need To Poop Straight After Eating
If you find yourself heading to the bathroom almost immediately after a meal, you’re not alone—and there’s a scientific explanation for it.
According to a doctor on TikTok, the urge to go number two right after eating isn’t because the food you just consumed is rushing straight through your digestive system. Instead, it’s due to a completely normal bodily response known as the gastrocolic reflex.
What Is the Gastrocolic Reflex?
As explained by VeryWell Health, the gastrocolic reflex is a natural, physiological response that activates movement in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract after eating. It’s not a disease or a disorder—just your body’s way of making space for more food.
Dr. Salhab, the TikTok doctor behind the viral explanation, breaks it down like this: when you eat, your stomach stretches. This stretching sends signals to your brain, which in turn sends signals to your colon. The colon then contracts, prompting the urge to have a bowel movement.
So, if you’re running to the restroom shortly after a meal, what’s coming out isn’t the food you just ate—it’s waste that was already in your colon. That waste is made up of older digested food and water.
Why Some People Experience It More Intensely
For individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this gastrocolic reflex can be much more pronounced. According to the Cleveland Clinic, IBS can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
Dr. Salhab explains that people with IBS may experience especially strong or even painful colon contractions after eating. This can lead to cramping and urgent bowel movements, often accompanied by diarrhea.
What You Can Do About It
If this reflex is affecting your daily life, there are steps you can take to help manage the symptoms. Dr. Salhab recommends avoiding common trigger foods and beverages such as:
- Carbonated drinks
- Alcohol
- Certain citrus fruits
- Dairy (for some people)
- Fried or fatty foods
In other words—some of the most tempting options on the menu.
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