According to Health Insurance, a normal frequency for having a bowel movement would be between three times a day and three times a week. A visible difference, which can be explained in particular by a diet changing from one individual to another, but also by stress, lack of time or discomfort in the intestine. Indeed, each organism has a different rate of evacuation of stools. If some people are bothered by chronic constipation (which is defined by a reduction in the frequency of stools associated with difficulty passing them), others, on the contrary, may be bothered by the regular frequency of their stools, especially after eating.
I have a bowel movement after every meal, is this normal?
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. Alternatively, if your stools are loose and resemble diarrhea, this may be a sign of a gastrointestinal condition or malabsorption, i.e. “difficulty absorbing nutrients from food”explains Dr. Dibba.
What factors could impact 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, celiac disease, allergies or food intolerances can also cause the gastrocolic reflex to become overactive. 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, January 21, 2024
- Constipation in adults: definition, symptoms, contributing factors, Health Insurance