Ever finish a meal only to find yourself making a beeline for the bathroom? If this happens to you often, you’re definitely not alone. It might feel like your food is sprinting straight through your body, but according to a doctor on TikTok, there’s a scientific explanation behind this urge—and it’s completely normal for many people.

Dr. Karan Raj, a popular medical content creator, breaks down this surprisingly common phenomenon, reassuring us that this urge isn’t as alarming as it may seem. Despite how it feels, your meal isn’t traveling from your mouth to the toilet in a matter of minutes. Instead, what you’re experiencing is something called the gastrocolic reflex—a natural, built-in part of your digestive system.

What Is the Gastrocolic Reflex?

The gastrocolic reflex is a normal physiological reaction that happens every time you eat. It’s your body’s way of creating space in your digestive system for the new food you’ve just consumed. Here’s how it works: when food enters your stomach and starts to stretch its walls, your body sends signals to your brain. In response, your brain triggers your colon to contract, which helps move old, already-digested material further down your digestive tract. This reflex is what causes the sensation—or even the urgent need—to go to the bathroom shortly after eating.

The key point here is that what’s being expelled isn’t the food you just ate. That meal is still in your stomach, starting its slow journey through your digestive system. What you’re actually eliminating is waste from previous meals that’s been sitting in your colon. Along with it comes water and other byproducts from digestion.

When the Reflex Feels Stronger Than Usual

For some people, this reflex can be especially powerful. If you notice that every meal leads to an urgent bathroom visit—and it feels like more than just a mild nudge—it could be linked to a condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects the way the gut works. It’s not life-threatening, but it can make day-to-day life uncomfortable. People with IBS often have a heightened gastrocolic reflex, which means their digestive tract responds more dramatically to food entering the stomach. For them, the colon might contract more quickly or intensely than it does in people without IBS, resulting in cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation soon after meals.

Even people without IBS might notice that certain foods seem to trigger this reflex more than others. For example, large meals, fatty foods, or caffeine are known to stimulate the gastrocolic reflex more strongly. Spicy meals, dairy products, and artificial sweeteners may also be culprits, especially in people with sensitive stomachs.

When to Be Concerned

While the gastrocolic reflex is a totally normal part of digestion, it can be frustrating or even concerning if it’s happening too frequently or if it’s paired with pain or other symptoms. If you’re consistently rushing to the bathroom after meals and it’s disrupting your life, it may be worth speaking to a doctor. They can help you determine whether you’re dealing with something like IBS, food intolerances, or another gastrointestinal condition that needs management.

Paying attention to your eating habits and symptoms can help, too. Keeping a food journal to track what you eat and how your body reacts can provide valuable insight. You might discover that your body responds better to smaller, more frequent meals rather than large ones—or that avoiding specific trigger foods eases the issue.

Bottom Line

If you feel the urge to poop right after eating, you’re not weird—and your body isn’t broken. You’re likely just experiencing your gastrocolic reflex doing its job. It’s a built-in part of your digestive system designed to help things move along and keep everything running smoothly.

But if it starts affecting your daily routine or comes with uncomfortable symptoms, don’t hesitate to check in with a healthcare professional. Understanding how your body works is the first step toward feeling more in control of your health—and less like a slave to your bathroom schedule.