Dr. Joseph Salhab has shared some insights for anyone who finds themselves needing to head to the bathroom right after eating. Recent research provides some explanations for this common experience, and it’s not what you might think.
Firstly, it’s important to clarify that immediate bowel movements aren’t because your food is being propelled straight through your digestive system. In a TikTok video, Dr. Salhab explains, “It’s not because food is moving instantly throughout your GI tract.”
So, what’s really happening?
This revelation has surprised many on the internet, with comments such as, “This makes so much sense!” and “This changes everything.” One person even joked, “Wow, my whole life has been a lie.”
Dr. Salhab highlights how your bowel movements can serve as indicators of your overall health. For example, conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause food to move more rapidly through the digestive tract.
Other potential causes include food allergies, intolerances, anxiety, gastritis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Crohn’s disease. These issues can result in an urgent need to defecate shortly after eating, accompanied by symptoms like bloating, frequent gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea or constipation.
Another possible reason for the urgent need to poop
Could be fecal or bowel incontinence, ranging from mild to severe loss of bowel control. However, Dr. Salhab points out another key reason you might feel the need to defecate right after eating: the gastrocolic reflex.
According to Medical News Today, the gastrocolic reflex is a natural reaction that occurs when food enters the stomach. Although this reflex does not mean the meal is moving through your body immediately, it does trigger the urge to go. Typically, food takes about 1-2 days to pass through the digestive tract.
In summary
The need to defecate right after eating is usually due to the gastrocolic reflex, a natural biological response. While almost everyone goes through this at times, the intensity can vary. Making certain lifestyle changes may help alleviate this urgent need. However, if you consistently experience diarrhea or other digestive issues after eating, it might be a sign of an underlying condition that requires medical attention.
