“It isn’t a disease or medical condition, but rather a normal reflex that helps your body make room for more food within your GI tract after eating.”
Dr Salhab breaks it down further, explaining ‘your stomach stretches and then this sends signals to your brain which then sends signals to your colon’.
“Your colon then begins to contract to make more room for the food, that reflex makes you have to use the restroom right after you eat,” he continues. “Because your colon normally houses stool and water, the stuff that’s actually coming out is old digested food and water.”
gastrocolic reflex
Image for illustrative purpose only.
Heightened reflex
People diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a particularly sensitive gastrocolic reflex.
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