“The gastrocolic reflex is a physiological reflex that stimulates
movement in your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract after eating.
“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 reflexmakes you have to use the restroom right after you eat,” he continues.
“Becauseyour colon normally houses stool and water, the stuff that’s actually coming outis old digested food and water.”
People diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome
What does it mean?
Board-certified gastroenterologist Dr Joseph Salhab took to TikTok earlier this year to reveal if you go for a number two straight after eating ‘it’s not because this food is moving instantly throughout your gastrointestinal tract’.
Instead, he explains: “When you eat and you feel like you have to use the restroom right after this is something called the gastrocolic reflex.”
What the gastrocolic reflex means
VeryWell Health states: “The gastrocolic reflex is a physiological reflex that stimulates movement in your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract after eating.
“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.”
And there are some people who have a ‘heightened sensitivity’ to this reflex.
