You’ve been pooping the wrong way all your life

Chances are you’ve been pooping the wrong way all your life, and that mistake is very detrimental to your health.

Scientists at the Stanford University Pelvic Floor Clinic argued that the human body is designed for squatting, not sitting. You if you live in the Western world or at least adapted many aspects on their culture it’s say to assume that your bathroom habit is doing you harm.

Sitting vs Squatting

The researchers learned that improper fecal elimination can cause appendicitis, hernias, diverticulosis,inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids and even colon cancer.

The study focused on 28 people who pooped in different positions: sitting on a low toilet, sitting on a high toilet and squatting. The scientist learned that people who pooped squatting find it easier to do the deed and took it less time.

“There is definitely some physiologic sense to squatting,” explained gastroenterologist Anish Sheth, MD, co-author of the books What’s Your Poo Telling You? and What’s My Pee Telling Me? “Simply put, it straightens out the colon.”’

There is the right way to do the deed.

Everyday Health explained that “when we’re standing, the colon (where waste is stored) gets pushed up against the puborectalis muscle, which keeps fecal continence until it’s time to hit the bathroom. Sitting down only partially relaxes that muscle. Squatting fully relaxes it, essentially straightening out the colon. That, in turn, eases the elimination pooping process.”

Bockus’s Gastroenterology, a medical text from 1964 already discussed the matter: The ideal posture for defecation is the squatting position, with the thighs fixed upon the abdomen

There are a number of health benefits of pooping in squatting position:

1. Easier and faster excretion of fecal matter

2. Prevents stagnation of waste and therefore allows you to really clean your body, thus removing risk of colon cancer

3. Prevents waste from re-entering and contaminating small intestine

4. Keeps your pelvic floor protected, improving general prostate health and bladder control

5. Keeps your nerves in the groin area protected, improving muscle control while preventing unnecessary stretching

6. Removes pressure on the uterus

7. Trains women in natural delivery.