Why You Feel the Urge to Poop After Eating: A Doctor Explains
Many people experience the need to use the restroom shortly after eating, and according to medical experts, this is a completely normal occurrence.
A healthcare professional on TikTok recently highlighted this common phenomenon, reassuring those who frequently rush to the bathroom after meals that they are not alone.
Understanding the Gastrocolic Reflex
Despite what it may seem, feeling the urge to have a bowel movement immediately after eating does not mean that your food is being digested unusually fast. Instead, this sensation is due to the “gastrocolic reflex.”
According to VeryWell Health, the gastrocolic reflex is a natural physiological response that stimulates movement in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract after consuming food. This reflex helps create space in your digestive system for incoming food by triggering contractions in the colon.
Dr. Salhab explains that as the stomach expands with food, it signals the brain, which then prompts the colon to contract. This reaction often leads to the urge to have a bowel movement. The waste that is expelled, however, is not from the most recent meal but consists of older digested food and fluids stored in the colon.
When the Reflex Is More Intense
For individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the gastrocolic reflex can be more pronounced. According to the Cleveland Clinic, IBS can cause abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and excessive gas.
Dr. Salhab notes that some people experience intense abdominal cramps or even diarrhea following meals due to heightened colon contractions. Fortunately, there are ways to manage these symptoms effectively.
Managing Symptoms
To reduce the severity of post-meal bathroom urges, Dr. Salhab recommends avoiding certain trigger foods and beverages. These include:
- Carbonated drinks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Certain citrus fruits
- Dairy products (for some individuals)
- Fried and fatty foods
By making mindful dietary choices, you may be able to minimize discomfort and maintain better digestive health.
Share the Knowledge!
If you found this information helpful, share it with your friends and family so they, too, can better understand their digestive health!
A woman lost 90 kg after a rescue helicopter could not pick her up due to her weight
One day, Danielle Hutchinson, who weighed 325 pounds, realized that her weight was keeping her and her critically ill four-year-old daughter from boarding the rescue chopper.This Norwich, Connecticut, resident, 32, has struggled with weight all of her life.She was forbidden from roller coasters and needed an extra belt whenever she flew.However, her weight started to pose a serious threat to her health in December 2022.
Neve, her daughter, had a serious asthma attack and needed to be airlifted to a specialized hospital immediately.Danielle’s weight unfortunately proved to be a safety hazard, and she was forced to travel apart from her daughter by medical specialists.
For Danielle, it was this encounter that marked a sea change.In a few of weeks, she began taking injections for weight loss and drastically altered her diet.She stuck to her diet and exercise routine for the next year and lost an amazing 200 pounds.Danielle weighs only 110 pounds now and is in awe of her good fortune.She claims, “I’ve fought obesity for nearly my whole adult life and have always prioritized my kids.”
However, missing out on riding the chopper with my daughter served as a wake-up call. I came to the realization that I had to take care of myself if I wanted to be there for my kids. Danielle is up against a new obstacle despite her success: having almost five kilograms of extra skin removed from her tummy.
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