If you feel the need to use the bathroom right after eating, it’s likely due to the gastrocolic reflex, not because your meal is passing straight
through you. This normal body response triggers colon contractions when your stomach stretches with new food, helping make room in your digestive system.
Dr. Salhab explains that the waste you pass is from earlier meals, not the one you just ate. For people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), this reflex
can be stronger, causing symptoms like cramping, diarrhea, and bloating. Fortunately, these symptoms can often be managed with proper care.
