Why do I poop right after I eat?
In this article we are going to answer why I poop after I eat, how much I have to poop, is it wrong to poop right after you eat, what is the gastrocolic reflex, and how can I stop my urge to poop after I eat.
Why do I poop after I eat?
When you feel the urge to poop right after you eat it probably is caused by the gastrocolic reflex or fecal incontinence. Pooping after you eat does not mean you will poop the food you are eating. When you poop the food that is coming out is the food you ate about 1 to 2 days before.
Gastrocolic reflex
This is normal in all individuals but it can vary from person to person. The urge to poop after you eat is caused because when we eat, a hormone that causes the colon to contract is released. Some people might not even feel the gastrocolic reflex while others have to go running to poop.
Some conditions might worsen or make you feel more the gastrocolic reflex such as
- IBS or irritable bowel syndrome
- Food allergies
- Food intolerance
- Anxiety
- Gastritis
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Crohn’s disease
Fecal incontinence
The main difference between fecal incontinence and the gastrocolic reflex is that fecal incontinence can happen at any time while the gastrocolic reflex only happens after you eat. Fecal incontinence can be caused because
- Diarrhea
- Nerve damage in the rectum
- Damage or muscles in the rectum or rectal walls
- Rectocele
- Rectal prolapse
How much do I have to poop?
There is no rule for how much a person should poop. On average people should poop once or twice per day but for some people it is normal not to poop for one, two, or three days. Everyone has their normal version of how much and how they poop. As long as you are feeling good, there should be no worry.
If you are popping too much or not too much and you feel discomfort you should look for medical help.
Is it wrong to poop right after you eat?
It is not bad because it happens most commonly because of a reflex we all humans have but it is more common in babies or small children. When our digestive system maturates as we grow older, this reflex does not cause us to poop right after we eat just as when we were babies.
So, it can be a reflex that never went away or your digestive system is too sensitive to it. If when you poop after you eat your poop is runny, floats smells very bad, or simply looks or feels weird, then it might be because you have diarrhea or you are not absorbing fats correctly. In this case, look for medical help right away.
What is the gastrocolic reflex?
The gastrocolic reflex is defined as a physiological reflex that controls the motility of the low gastrointestinal tract after you eat. The automatic response from the colon in response to the gastrocolic reflex is to increase motility because of the stretch of the stomach.
How can I stop my urge to poop after I eat?
There is no treatment or prevention for the gastrocolic reflex because it is a natural reflex of the body but there are several steps you can follow to decrease how much you feel the reflex.
- Treat underlying conditions that can worsen the gastrocolic reflex. Depending on what you have such as gastritis, IBS, or any other digestive condition, seek medical help.
- Change the date to decrease the intensity of the gastrocolic reflex. You can keep a food diary so you can check which food you have the more urge to poop after you eat.
- Reduce the intake of fatty or greasy foods
- Decrease the intake of dairy products
- Decrease the intake of food high in fiber
Conclusion
In this article we are going to answer why I poop after I eat, how much I have to poop, is it wrong to poop right after you eat, what is the gastrocolic reflex, and how can I stop my urge to poop after I eat.
Citation
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326873#affecting-conditions
