Are you concerned about the very regular frequency of your bowel movements? Depending on Health Insurance, this varies widely from one individual to another and can be between three times a day and three times a week. If some people are bothered by a chronic constipation, which is defined by a reduction in the frequency of stools associated with difficulty in evacuating them, others are on the contrary inconvenienced by frequency very regular in their stools. Indeed, each body has a different rate of evacuation of stools, and in some people, this can happen very quickly, especially after eating. Interviewed by the media ParadeAmerican gastroenterologists have explained the reasons why some people have a bowel movement after every meal.
Is it normal to have a bowel movement after every meal?
Going to the toilet after eating is not “not worrying”, according to Christine Lee, gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic. This corresponds to a natural reflex called gastrocolic reflex. This stimulates the intestine to contract and move its contents. As Dr. Pratima Dibba, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Medical Offices in Manhattan, explains, “This reflex occurs when we ingest new foods. Ingesting food causes stretching of the stomach, which stimulates the intestine and causes defecation”. This is a normal process, “so there is usually no need to worry if you need to have a bowel movement after meals, as long as your stools are healthy,” indicates the gastroenterologist. Experts specify that healthy stools must be solid and easy to pass. Furthermore, if your stools are soft and look like diarrheathis may be a sign of a gastrointestinal condition or malabsorption, i.e. “difficulty absorbing nutrients from food”explains Dr. Dibba.
Are there certain factors that can influence the gastrocolic reflex?
According to gastroenterologists, the gastrocolic reflex can be disrupted or intensified by certain pathologies such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, which will accelerate the passage of food through the colon. Anxiety, a celiac disease, allergies or food intolerances can also cause hyperactivity of the gastrocolic reflex. Additionally, as Dr. Lee explains, if the colon is already full of stool, “this one will be ready to discharge at the slightest stimulation”. Finally, some people may also have weak rectal muscles or poor muscle control, which may make them feel like they need to go to the bathroom more frequently.
If it is normal “to have a bowel movement immediately after eating” according to Doctor Dibba, however, you must pay particular attention to the consistency of your stools. Indeed, if you often have diarrhea after eating, this is not necessarily linked to the gastrocolic reflex. This may be a pathology to be detected. This is why Dr. Lee advises “Call your doctor if you have other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or weight loss, or if diarrhea is affecting your quality of life.”
Sources :
- Is It Normal to Poop After Every Meal? GI Experts Spill the Beans, Parade, 21 Janvier 2024
- Constipation in adults: definition, symptoms, contributing factors, Health Insurance
