Doctor Shares What It Means If You Always Need To Poo Immediately After You Eat

The urge to go to the toilet straight after eating could be a matter of brain signals

A doctor has shed light on why you might feel the sudden need to use the bathroom right after eating, and it may not be what you think.

We’ve all heard advice about how often we should go to the toilet or what a “normal” bowel movement looks like.

But have you ever wondered why some of us feel the urge to go right after finishing a meal?

Dr. Joseph Salhab recently addressed this question on TikTok, explaining that it doesn’t necessarily point to something like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

It may actually be due to how your brain and body communicate.

Dr. Salhab clarified, “It’s not because food is moving instantly throughout your GI tract,” which is what many might assume.

Bowel movements right after eating are usually not a sign of anything untoward.Getty Stock Images

Instead, he revealed that the sensation is linked to signals your brain sends when you eat.

In his video, he explained: “When you eat and you feel like you have to use the restroom right after, this is something called the gastrocolic reflex.”

The NHS backs this up, describing it as “a physiological reflex that occurs in response to the stretching of the stomach after eating a meal and the arrival of by-products of digestion in the small intestine.”

So, what’s actually happening? Within 20-30 minutes of eating, your stomach expands, and that triggers your brain to send signals that the stomach is full.

To make room for incoming food, your colon starts contracting, which often leads to that urgent feeling of needing to go to the bathroom.

It’s also worth noting that this reflex is especially strong after breakfast.

The doctor suggests that signals are sent to your brain right after you eat.Getty Stock Images

While this post-meal rush to the bathroom usually isn’t a cause for concern, Dr. Salhab pointed out that people with IBS may feel this urge more intensely.

Along with the need to go, they might also experience cramping or even diarrhea.

As the doctor noted, “the contractions of the colon can be very powerful” for those dealing with IBS.

Even though IBS can make the gastrocolic reflex more severe, there are ways to manage the symptoms.

Certain foods, drinks, and lifestyle choices can make things worse, such as fizzy drinks, sugary beverages, alcohol, dairy, fried foods, and some citrus fruits.

However, there are also remedies and dietary strategies that may help reduce these symptoms.

Here are a few suggestions for managing the gastrocolic reflex:

1. Low-FODMAP Foods

A low-FODMAP diet helps people with IBS or a sensitive gastrocolic reflex. FODMAPs are hard-to-digest carbs that can trigger bloating and diarrhea. Foods like oats, quinoa, and spinach are easier on the digestive system and may reduce the post-meal urgency to use the bathroom.

2. Bananas

Bananas are known to help with digestion. They contain soluble fiber, which adds bulk to your stool, helping to regulate bowel movements and reduce the need to rush to the toilet.

3. Ginger

Ginger has long been praised for its soothing effects on digestion. Adding ginger to meals or drinking ginger tea can ease cramping and discomfort, especially for those with IBS.

4. Plain Yogurt with Probiotics

Yogurt with live probiotics helps balance your gut’s bacteria, which supports digestion and may reduce the need to use the bathroom after eating.

5. Aloe Vera with Water

Aloe vera, mixed with water, can calm the digestive system and help with bowel regularity, particularly useful for people with IBS.

6. Psyllium Husk Supplements

Psyllium husk adds bulk to your stool and promotes regular bowel movements. Taking it before meals can help manage the urgency that follows eating.

7. Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium citrate relaxes the muscles in your intestines, which can make bowel movements easier and help reduce IBS-related symptoms.

8. Digestive Enzyme Supplements

Digestive enzymes help your body break down food more efficiently, which can ease gut stress and reduce the need for frequent bathroom visits.

9. Probiotic Supplements

Adding probiotic supplements to your diet helps introduce good bacteria to your gut, which can improve digestion and reduce post-meal bathroom trips.