Modern society has become a good deal more enlightened than it was a few decades ago and we have reached a point where almost anything can and will be brought up for discussion. It is a time where nearly ‘anything goes’ in the realm of public discourse including the article you’re about to read.
For a long time, many people would not have been comfortable discussing their toilet habits in public. With this being said, when you read about the benefits of squatting while doing a ‘Number 2’ you’ll want to tell everyone you know about it!
Believe it or not, we can learn a lot from examining our stool. For instance the color and texture of it can give you an indication of your body’s digestive health. What your stool won’t tell you is that the easiest and most risk-free way of passing excrement is actually by squatting and not sitting.
Medical doctors and health professionals have suggested that sitting on a toilet while passing motion can lead to an array of health complications. Continue reading to find out the best way to do your ‘number 2’
The difference between sitting and squatting
Giulia Enders who is a microbiologist, states that before the toilets we are a familiar with were invented, humans used to squat in order to pass motion. Many researchers believe that squatting is actually the natural position for stool passage. The act of sitting to poop stemmed only in the last few centuries and it is a rather unnatural development because the body was made to defecate in this way.
There are now contraptions such as small foot stools which can be used to mimic the squatting posture on a sit-down toilet.
The position of the anus while sitting and squatting
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, sitting on a toilet places your knees at a 90-degree angle to your abdomen. This will hinder excretion by pinching off your anal canal.
On the other hand, squatting places your knees closer to your torso which in turn will relax and straighten your rectum. It changes the spatial relationship between your intestinal organs and muscles which improves the overall flow of defecation.
Sitting while pooping will result in a greater chance of contracting bowel cancer
According to the National Biotechnology Information Center, colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer and if it is not detected in it’s early stages it can lead to death. Squatting can reduce the overall risk of developing colon cancer.
Squatting prevents fecal stagnation and it also stops the accumulation of toxins in your intestinal tract which can become inflamed and cause bowel problems.
Constipation
Squat toilets encourages the complete emptying of your bowels without strain and this has been scientifically shown to relieve constipation. There has been extensive research done that indicates sitting toilets are partly responsible for the feeling of discomfort and strain while pooping.
This strain can lead to even more severe health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), appendicitis, and even heart attacks which can be caused by the disruption of blood flow in the body.
Urinary related diseases
Squat toilets are not only beneficial for your bowels but also your urinary system. It is shown that the urinary flow is usually stronger when women urinate while squatting. The bladder is also emptied more efficiently as compared to sitting or ‘hovering’ over the toilet seat.
This can also reduce the risk of contracting urinary tract infections because there is no contact made while squatting to empty your bladder.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, or sometimes known as piles, are swollen and inflamed veins located in your anus and lower rectum which can lead to intense discomfort.
By sitting and straining the natural passage of fecal matter, the veins around the anus may stretch or swell which will cause hemorrhoids. This can develop from an increase in pressure in the lower rectum.
