Have you ever finished a meal only to feel the sudden and urgent need to use the bathroom? It’s a surprisingly common experience — one that has left many people puzzled about how food could possibly move through the body that fast.

According to a doctor’s recent explanation, this reaction isn’t a sign that your digestive system is “too fast” or malfunctioning — it’s actually a normal and healthy reflex that shows your body is working just as it should.

When you eat, your stomach expands to make room for food, triggering a communication loop between your stomach and brain. The brain then sends a signal to your colon, telling it to contract and clear out any waste left behind from previous meals. This process, known as the gastrocolic reflex, can make you feel