If ever you’re eating something right now, “mawalang-galang na po” but let me just ask you one thing many of us would rather keep in private — are you pooping the right way? If you’re sitting pretty on the throne and doing your business like that, you’re missing out on an important life hack that could save your health in the long term.
If we just allow ourselves to be just as natural as our primitive ancestors, we still could have been doing the “squatty potty” position, also called the Asian squat. Sooner than later, your digestive system will thank you for emptying your chamber of secrets properly. If you’re still not convinced, here’s why squatting is good for your pipes and your health.
How to do it?
The Continence Foundation of Australia — yes, this country has an entire organization tasked to promote good bladder and bowel health — recommends that pooping while doing the squatting is way much healthier than just merely sitting. If you’re still not used to it, here is the proper way to do it:
- Sit on the bowl like you regularly do.
- Make sure your knees are placed higher than your hips (you can use a footstool or other flat surface to elevate your foot)
- Lean forward
- Put your elbows on your knees
- Relax and let loose of your stomach (you don’t have to flex your abs)
- Make sure your spine is in a straight position
Straight route
When your knees are elevated higher than your hips, your large intestine is not contracted and your puborectalis muscle is more relaxed. Hence, this position reduces the pain when you’re emptying out your bowel.
Relaxed muscles
As you put your knees higher, your rectum opens more easily. Your puborectalis muscle lengthens, making it more relaxed. This muscle is found on your lower rectum and is the one responsible for controlling your muscles during the process of defecation.
Less straining
Since your pipe is straightened when squatting, there will be less friction and less straining. Doing this posture is also less stressful for your rectal muscles, as opposed to the usual sitting position that can overstretch your muscles and eventually weaken them, resulting in anal fissures.
Helps avoid constipation
Doing this posture also decreases the chances of having constipation because the expulsion of digestive matters is more effortless. You also don’t have to take in laxatives so it also saves you from unexpected costs. As always, prevention is better than cure.
Prevents hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer
Too much straining may also result in hemorrhoids, the swelling of veins in the lower rectum. From a wider perspective, the simple act of squatting may save you from a more severe illness — colorectal cancer. This disease is less common in Asian nations than in Western. In fact, some countries like China and South Korea use squat toilets even in their public restrooms. Since Filipinos are used to squatting in front of their neighbors’ house to get that juicy tsismis, don’t you think it’s time for the Philippines to adopt this design?
Less pressure on the stomach
The squat position is not only less stressful for your intestines, but also for your stomach. On a bad day, having an aching belly is bothersome. If we just learn how to squat on our toilet seats, we’re not only saving our health but also our mood for the day.
How do we solve this?
Restrooms in the Philippines aren’t equipped with squat toilets. It may even take decades to fully transition to this setup, should we start realizing the benefits of the squatting posture. However, we could start adopting this technique in the comfort of our own comfort rooms. You also don’t have to change your toilets to do this. You can start with buying squat stools from Shopee or Lazada. Who knows? With this simple act, you might start a toilet revolution.
Do you think it’s time for Filipinos to adopt squat toilets in public restrooms? Tell us your thoughts!
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