You Don’t Know Squat
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A while back, I gave a bit of Link Love to Nature’s Platform (thanks, NeoPaleo), a contraption that fits over regular toilets and allows users to squat instead of sit. I included it mainly for the laughs, a bit of tongue-in-cheek (no, not that cheek – the other one!) ribald humor that was somewhat relevant to the Primal lifestyle (because let’s face it, Grok was definitely a squatter), but then I got to thinking: maybe there really is something to squatting. At the very least, I owed it to our bowels to look a bit deeper into the subject, to try to get to the bottom of it, as it were.
I’ve always been one to pull up a stool, have a seat, and ruminate on the past. Learn from what our ancestors did. They made mistakes, sure, but they also made great strides, and to simply wipe that history clean and discard the wisdom contained therein is foolish. If we do that, we risk flushing vital information down the toilet. This is of course old news to most of our regular readers, who take the concept to heart, especially in regards to evolutionary diet and fitness. With every fiber of our being, we pattern our behavior after our ancestral history, because that’s when the formative years of human evolution occurred. Homo sapiens have been eating certain things and exercising a certain way for hundreds of thousands of years, and it doesn’t make sense to mess with a good thing.
So where does historical defecation posture fit into all this? Well, if you’re going by years, we’ve been eating grains far longer than we’ve been sitting down to poop. There have been a few exceptions, of course. Moenjo-daro, a 2600 B.C. Indus Valley city-settlement, featured advanced “Western style” toilets, for example, and the Pharoahs and upper-class Romans may have sat to handle their business (they certainly had toilets). Up until the 19th century, though, sitting toilets were a luxury reserved for the affluent. And even then, the sitting toilet was only widely adopted in the West. Everyone else squatted – and most continue to do so today. I go to Thailand fairly often. I can vouch for the prevalence of squat toilets. We’re the weird ones for sitting down to poop, if you want to go by sheer numbers. Worldwide, sitting is actually just the number two method.
If you want to be anal about it, there may actually be some concrete physiological benefits to squatting.
Straining
For one, squatting opens up the recto-anal angle, allowing the squatter to be a bit more lax when handling business. Sitting down to poop, on the other hand, constricts the passageways and requires more straining to push things through. The Israeli researcher Dr. Berko Sikirov, an especially adamant proponent of the squat method, identified the “underlying mechanism” behind constipation: “the obstructive nature of the recto-anal angle” in the sitting position. Constipation often leads to excessive straining (“at least three-fold more than in a squatting posture”), which has been fingered as a probable cause of colonic diverticulosis by Sikirov.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are another fixture of Western society that don’t enjoy the same prevalence in “squatting” countries. Sikirov assumed the defecation posture might be the culprit, so he gathered a relatively small group of hemorrhoid sufferers – twenty of them, to be exact – and “treated” them with the squatting method. The results were noteworthy: more than half showed marked improvement within weeks or days, while the rest took a bit longer. Everyone improved. Unfortunately for us, the necessary follow up research (on account of the small sample size) has yet to be conducted. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons don’t seem interested in the possible therapeutic value of squatting. In fact, you might even say Sikirov is the butt of their jokes.
Other Claims
Colon cancer is relatively rare in third-world countries, and now that the fiber hypothesis is all but dead, some suggest chronic constipation (possibly from sitting to poop) is to blame. These claims seem a bit more dubious, judging from this study’s (PDF) conclusion: that aberrant crypt foci (ACF) is the most likely cause of colorectal cancer, and that a cause-and-effect relationship between constipation and cancer cannot be established. Squatting may help clear the road, but I doubt it’s the key to preventing colon cancer.
Proponents also claim that seated toilet-induced “fecal stagnation” causes appendicitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which are rare in traditional cultures and relatively common in westernized cultures. I lean toward diet being the general cause, but I admit defecation positions and their possible health ramifications aren’t my area of expertise, so I’ll relay the information all the same. The appendix, seen here right next to the ceceum, may be vulnerable to fecal blockage (which is actually one of the official possible causes of appendicitis when waste is eliminated from a sitting position. In a stunning display of disturbing imagery, the folks at Nature’s Platform liken it to squeezing a toothpaste tube in the center and seeing both the bottom and top inflate with paste: when sitting, the ceceum cannot be completely vacated and the contents spill out haphazardly, presumably into the adjacent appendix and small intestine, causing appendicitis and Crohn’s disease. When one squats, however, the ceceum is squeezed empty from its base by the right thigh.
As I said earlier, I can’t make the call. Nature’s Platform seems well-sourced, and the references that offer free abstracts or texts check out just fine. There are obvious benefits to squatting – reduced constipation, less straining – and there’s definitely a strong evolutionary precedent for it, but the claims about cancer, appendicitis, and Crohn’s disease aren’t exactly verifiable. I’d say that squatting to eliminate is technically Primal, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Can’t hurt to try, though (unless you have bad knees and joints, of course). In fact, I’d urge you to give it a shot at least once, as long as you’re physically able. A few of our forum members seem to enjoy it.
Let me know what you think. Ever tried it? Will you now? Experiences? Thanks, everyone!
Photo Credit: Nature’s Platform
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
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I’ll have to head out to the woods tomorrow morning and give it a try
I think I’ll stick with the “modern” way for a while. Butt, I’m open to trying anything once.
-Jess
One of my other favorite web sites is http://www.undergroundwellness.com and Sean just posted a video about pooping and how it’s more natural to squat. He uses a stool (no not that kind) to put his feet on to help align for better elimination. Check him out on youtube, do a search for underground wellness.
P.S. Mark, I just started your Damage Control Formula, I’m on autoship.
Been wanting to do it for some time and I think nows the time!
When I brought my sons to the U.S. from Thailand, they had done nothing but squat. So I wasn’t surprised when I walked in on the oldest to find his feet perched on the toilet seat!
This was an interesting read — having lived in Europe during the 1960’s-1980’s, I’ve seen my share of Turkish & Italian toilets. As a hemerrhoid sufferer, I’m intrigued that squatting might help recovery.
And with that, I’m gonna go log out!
Interesting, log, I mean, post. I’ll have to constipate, I mean, contemplate squatting.
This made me laugh several times. Thanks!
In all seriousness, I’ve heard of this before, particularly with the hemorrhoid issue. One of the worst things people can do is sit on the toilet and read, and my husband does this all the time! It drives me nuts. Of course, he’s had hemorrhoids, too.
All you need is a footstool by the toilet to use to help keep your legs up a bit, and it helps with the circulation issue.
Putting something under your feet while you sit (what I call “imitation squat”) doesnt really make a world of difference, as further imformation I read showed. What I do is, I stand on two large coffee cans, one under each foot and squat over the bowel. A real squat!
I’ve often seen my seven year old son perched on the toilet in a squatting position. He’s a free spirit…and I always chuckle and move on. Now, I may ask him how he does it!!
By the way…you had a bunch of fun writing this one, didn’t you?
ooo nooo….. now everytime i see the banner on your page of you squatting with your hands in prayer, i think of you taking a primal poo. THX Mark!
HA! Hee hee hee…
Hey there sexy lady.
There are a few footstools on the internet which get your body closer to a squatting position on a modern toilet. We have used it for years, fits under your toilet and makes everything easier.
Wellesstep
http://www.juicing.com/wellesstep.htm
Healthstep http://www.naturalhealingtools.com/healthstep.aspx
Lifestep
http://www.renewlife.com/products/lifestep.aspx
It’s amazing how everything works together. Squatting is pretty difficult unless you’re used to going barefoot and you have the required flexibility and muscle strength.
Another interesting thing I’ve read is that squatting is also the ideal position for childbirth. I’m a man that doesn’t have kids, but all the horror stories I hear about childbirth make me wonder how it could have been done in Grok’s time. It doesn’t seem like many animals have as much trouble with it as us. Maybe we just shouldn’t be laying down to do it? Good “Squatting childbirth” for some easy info.
Google, I mean. Not “good”.
After having 3 kids all without any pharmacuetical help I can tell you that the best position is the one that makes you feel most comfortable. I really don’t think I would have felt much like squatting plus I think it would have increased the force and speed of the head emerging and caused a lot of tearing.
Cherie’s right on – midwifery, which tends to focus on a more ‘natural’ birth, discourages squatting to push as it vastly increases the risk of tears. The baby shouldn’t be encoruaged to come flying out as fast as possible, the mother’s tissues need time to stretch and adjust.
One thing is for sure, though – flat on your back with your feet in stirrups for the duration of labor is not optimal.
The best explanation for the difficulty and pain of human childbirth is being bipeds (and maybe our largish skulls as infants). We are the only primate whose infants come down the birth canal anteriorly (face down) making labor longer and more painful, and difficult for the mother to assist the baby as it emerges – luckily we are the only animal who can assist eachother during birth.
kneeling or on your hands and knees or leaning over a piece of furniture (or your partner) can be nice positions for birth.
I had two kids squatting (or standing) during the entire labor and delivery. Both with very minimal tearing-I was in control of the speed-they did not fly out. They were both under two hour labors.
Also one of those kids (the other is still an infant) squats to play and poop. She also learned to stand from a squatting position without the aid of furniture.
Nice SEO piece. This ought to get you some “organic” traffic “honking for the right-of-way” to “drop in” for a read.
I like these kind of posts! Recipes are tasty looking, but I find this kind of information a lot more useful. Recipes are dime-a-dozen and I can modify most any of them to be primal.
How many articles will appear in front of us about the correct way to poop this week? Probably ONE (this one) unless other primal bloggers feed off (bad wording choice) the hype of this post.
SEO piece indeed! Just look at the URL:
/squat-poop
^^
Steve Pavlina of stevepavlina.com has mentioned that one of his highest traffic articles is on cooking brown rice, despite his site being devoted to personal development topics. I imagine he gets a lot of loyal readers via such digression posts.
I’ve been squatting for most bms for the past several months. By far the most noticeable change is how easy (no pushing required, just relax), fast (5 seconds of relaxing while squatting versus a minute of pushing while sitting), and complete elimination is. These benefits by themselves are already enough to choose squatting over sitting in my mind without even considering any measurable medical benefit.
I would recommend that everyone who is medically able try squatting for a week. The first couple of times you try it you might be uncomfortable due to the unfamiliarity of the position.
Be careful if you are squatting on a toilet seat that isn’t securely fastened to the toilet. Also, watch for splashback (eww!) if the water is deep. You may want to lower the water level in your toilet.
I think it’s a shame that this issue is so taboo and most doctors haven’t heard of it.
While I haven’t done any squatting, I have been doing a modified sit for a few months. Agreed that relaxing is a much more pleasant experience.
I also found out about this few months ago, tried it and not going back
The effort is reduced considerably.
You can do it easily with a normal toilet, you don’t need any special platforms for it
You just need to practice getting on a little bit, so that the plastic ring doesn’t get too much damage (like sliding it off from its base and falling yourself to bathroom floor…).
Splashing is a little problem, but if you aim a little “off” so that your stuff hits the wall before anything else, you’ll be alright (if you don’t mind about the added cleaning effort
).
This reminds me of camping. The most noticeable difference at camp is that there’s no traffic jam and things move faster.
Squatting while defecating is a good skill to have, if for nothing else but just in case you make a trip to places like China.
I love the play on words and puns in this post…
While it makes sense to me, installing “a hole in the floor” custom plumbing may be a wee bit hard to get friends and family to use.
Great, another question for Carrie! Sit or squat?
Before I can ‘advance’ to pooping – I need to get better at squatting. I sometimes try to squat while waiting for the bus and I need to work hard not to fall backwards.
Here is an amusing video which actually teaches you how to squat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTmg4dHiKg
A higher quality version of the video (posted by the film maker) is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y76UbfBr5vo
are you going to have a video competition for this one??? ‘most primal squat videos’ extra points for using a prickly leaf for TP
fantastic post! being from the caribbean where most people do this, americans/westerners generally don’t know squat. this ignorance can be a pain in the butt! of course, i would love to see squatting become far more poopular.
This has always been normal in India, where I’m from and yes it is indeed a lot easier than sitting, unless, of course, you have knee problems.
In fact you even get toilets (commodes) with a “foot rest” allowing you to squat if you lift the seat. If you lower it, it’s a regular toilet.
Off topic: I recently bought your book and had it delivered by my sister who lives in the US. Great read. Just letting you know you’re popular halfway round the world
My biggest problem in India was using the squat toilets with a bad knee. At least with the PB diet, I don’t have IBS anymore.
- Rob
by PB diet you mean the “primal Blueprint” diet book, am i correct? yes i am new to the site and lovin it, great info, already into researching the Paleo diet, this seems to take it to another level, especially with the whole squat to poo method.
I’m dizzy from all the puns!
squatting usually results in using less TP too!
Very true about the less TP, also you dont have to ’sit’ there wondering if you’re emptied out or still to go..
Can you sit and lean forward? That would put you in pretty much the same position. Never tried it, just wondering.
No, I’ve tried both leaning and squatting, and simply leaning forward doesn’t work. Possibly due to the different angle of gravity, things don’t seem to quite line up the same as with squatting, and also you no longer have gravity fully assisting in evacuation.
…also, when your weight is fully supported by your feet, a greater torque is applied to your hip joints than when your thighs are supported by the seat. For me, this extra stretch at the hips helps open things up so stuff can come out more easily. At least that’s how it feels for me.
Just be careful trying to squat on a western toilet. Porcelain can shatter and cause cuts in …ugghh… bad places. That and replacing a toilet is a pain!
Is it necessary to have the seat down to squat on it? It would seem safer and better for the toilet to squat on the bowl with the seat raised.
I had the same question!
I have used a Well’s Step for 20 years. I love using it and yes, it does make for easier movements. It’s similar to Nature’s Platform, takes up very little space, and it’s far more comfy than just sitting upright on a toilet seat or squatting over one. See picture here.
http://www.prettylikeme.com/The-Welles-Step-For-Easier-Defecation-p/rr-444123.htm
When my kids have had trouble “doing their thang” they’ve gotten into the squat position without any suggestions from me, just something they’ll naturally do. Squating to poop seems instinctive then, until its conditioned out of us– like most instincts seem to be in todays world.
You don’t need any fancy contraptions or a hole in the floor… Just lift up the seat and squat on the rim. Don’t worry it won’t break ( I weigh 195, and I haven’t fallen in thus far)… I do have to admit there is a learning curve. Ideally you should be able to squat comfortably with your heels on the floor before trying the rim squat!
If you don’t know squat, this is by far the neatest squat platform I’ve seen…
http://lillipad.co.nz/order-lillipad/order-lillipad.html
I’m definitely a squat-lover…when we’re out camping there’s nothing like finding a good spot, enjoying all that nature has to offer & relieving oneself naturally. I must say, it does give a better poop
I have been travelling to China several times a year since 1994 and was forced to learn how to squat.
Unfortunately in China the trend is to replace squat toilets with western toilets – in some cities it is now mandatory to install western style thrones in new homes.
In some older apartments the shower is installed over the squat toilet. It’s best to watch where one stands when showering or one could put one’s foot in it; so to speak.
Squating is also the normal way to give birth in some cultures. The baby seems to simply slide out into the Mother’s hands.
We stumbled upon this method almost a year ago. Our kids have been using essentially glorified chamber pots (the baby bjorn “potty” that sits right on the ground) since they were old enough to climb on (we sort of do elimination communication style potty-learning). FTR, they are 2 & 4 now. My husband and I have reverted back to our old sitting habits but I’m intrigued to start squatting again and see if there is a noticeable difference. We haven’t had any bowel complaints in quite awhile (we’ve been on an allery-restricted diet for nearly 2yrs and we’ve been paleo for almost 3m now).
An indelicate question for the experienced–do you have to take your pants all the way off?
Nope… You’ve just got to make sure to aim properly haha
It’s easier if you do take your pants all the way off (this is what I do — at home of course), but I’m sure you can do it without taking them off.
If you need to climb onto toilet to squat, you need to pull you pants down far enough to ‘clear the route’, but keep them fairly high so you can climb onto the toilet and position yourself properly.
OK, I have long held the belief that the modern toilet has led to the laziness of the westerner. My theory is that waste elimination is necessary and humans don’t seem to just “go in the woods” therefore, even when old, disabled or simply tired, having to have the muscle control and ability to squat is essential. I share this with many people who usually look at me like I’m insane, but I firmly believe in that theory.
Also, the book “How to Sh!t in the Woods” is quite informative.
U.S. midwives, at least home-birth midwives, certainly encourage squatting for childbirth. Squatting opens the pelvic outlet better than any other position. There are plenty of other good positions for birthing, but lying on the back ain’t one of them!
So many puns lol! I’ve squatted when I’ve gone fishing, hunting, etc… I mean it’s not like we’re going to drive all the way to a toilet just to go! I rather enjoyed it
.
Squatting while peeing is a whole different thing… It really sucks to get pee on your shoes!!!
I can’t work it out. Why are the Ozzies and Kiwis (Australians & New Zealanders) so anal?
Ozzies have books and books of photos of loos (toilets in outhouses or just a modest shelter) with a view. Fantastic views over the Pacific or a mountain, valley or beautiful rolling hills. But this craze is new to me (an Ozzie by birth).
Look at Nature’s Platform Website at the link:
“Gems from Down Under — Australian Perspectives on Squatting”. It’s not as if their website has loads of other links.
Then Mikeythehealthycaveman gives a link to a NZer’s website: http://lillipad.co.nz/order-lillipad/order-lillipad.html
Supporting this company will help a village in an underdeveloped country [Vila Ebule Rural Training Centre Workshop here in Port Vila, Vanuatu].
Get off your butt onto a squat for a healthy and hygienic way to go by buying a beautiful Lillipad Squat Toilet Platform. You’ll never regret it!
“Squat on the loo − it’s good for you!”
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Necessity-Unmentionable-World-Matters/dp/0805082719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253763459&sr=1-1
A favorite book of mine. Fun to read and very informative. Our tall, sitting toilets are pathetic.
In case the link goes all wonky, look the book up on amazon.com:
“The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters” by Rose George
I suggest reading it while you’re in the bathroom.
I don’t need to squat. I eat lots of veggies and that helps keep me on the reg’lar ole pot, no problems.
I spent a year in Afgan and had to squat most of the times. It for sure was a diffrent experence but you get used to it. I would say it was easier, and I did notice my kids did it nartraly when the had to go
My wife spent time in Pakistan training Occupational therapy and thought that because of the squatting postition used for ‘pooping’ certainly helped hip mobility and also reported very little hip problems in even the eldest of patients
Great article
I’m Sold – got up early this morning, starting reading this post… I’ve been primal for almost two months now – It has changed my life – I was a chronic sufferer of IBS since a child – NO MORE – instead of constant cramping, bloating and 4-5 ‘movements’ a day, NO intestinal issues, and 1 movement a day – now, that movement has been ‘hard’ to move at times – and this post has solved that – half way down the read – an urge it me – looked at the the diagrams – went to execute – and no extended workout needed to get things ‘moving’ – I’M A BELIEVER – just hope my wife doesn’t happen upon me while squatting away – she just won’t understand
(still workin’ on her to get primal)
Thanks for the link love (I’m the inventor of Nature’s Platform).
One small correction. The Roman toilets and the ones at Mohenjo-Daro were almost certainly used in the squatting position. I contacted Dr. Bindeswar Pathak, the world’s foremost expert on toilet history, about his website’s claim that they were “western-style” toilets. I asked him how he knows they were sat upon. He admitted that he doesn’t know. He was just repeating the assumption made by western archaeologists.
Regarding your skepticism about the link between colon cancer and western toilets, a study will be published soon confirming the link.
Anyway, thanks again for your openness to this vital knowledge. The world is rapidly waking up.
Very common here in Hong Kong every public WC has a squatter _
Okay, you all are a bit convincing, but… as everyone is always talking about mankind evolving… we’re not done yet…so… maybe I’ll just do my part for evolution by doing the standard sit, relax, and read…
I doubt that bowell problems in middle age affect reproductive fitness, so I doubt that human intestinal function will adapt to the seated toilet in the foreseeable future
How do you deal with splashes?
Some people (including me) mentioned this earlier. In short, aim for the shallow end or lower the water level in the toilet (lowering the water level saves water too).
I’ve been squatting for 3 years. Cleared up my piles. I also find that the bladder empties better.
That’s the posture I naturally use on the toilet anyway.
Glad to see it has some foundation and I’m not just being unneccessarily wierd.
In fact, I’m squatting on my chair while I’m typing this.
I guess I just never grew out of it. I’ve found no inconveniences with it.
Used squat toilets for years in Asia. Liked not having my bum pressing against a dirty toilet seat but took some balancing to keep my pant legs from touching the urine-soaked floor while I squatted. Using a squat toilet while wearing a narrow skirt and panty hose is very awkward.
Talk about tmi, this post is full of it…heee heee. interesting insight, in spite of the taboo topic.
This is a really interesting article. Yes, I’ll look for a convenient opportunity to try the “squat”. One of the things low-carb/paleo has done for me is to free me from extremely painful IBS.
Eventually, I’d like to move from using water based toilets to using a composting system. Being able to use a squat position might really simplify construction on such a system…
Yes, yes, I tried it. Every day since I read the post, in fact. I like it. Fast and easy. I spend no time at all in the bathroom. Having been burdened with an irritating roid for quite a while, I’m hoping this change will help the healing process.
I’m so happy I found this post. Honestly I haven’t been brave enough to address this on my blog or with anyone in real life. I’m a former IBS sufferer, low carb cured me, but it was then that I started thinking about toilet matters. I would try different positions; sitting straight up feet flat then tip toeing, leaning forward feet flat then tip toeing, putting my feet up on the wall in front of me, on the walls beside me and finally using a tall kitchen step to get my legs raised and this is what I’ve been doing since I was IBSing until now. And I’ve kept on doing it because the gravity really seems to make the whole experience more comfortable. I checked out every link submitted in the comments and the kitchen step I use (from Target) seems to do exactly the same thing as all those fancy steps, the only one I like better is the Nature’s Platform but I’m extremely cheap and will not be buying anytime soon. Thanks. I feel all vindicated now.
The FAQ page of NaturesPlatform.com explains why sitting with your feet propped up is quite bogus. For decades, those who sold footstools took advantage of western ignorance to promote this method. Anyone who’s grown up squatting would find footstools ludicrous. It’s only for those who are physically incapable of squatting.
The same FAQ page (question #6) shows how you can make your own simple and effective platform if price (or extreme obesity) rule out Nature’s Platform.
I’ve found (since I’m poor and have to come up with cool alternatives to get the job done) that if I keep the seat up, a kitchen chair facing the toilet bowl works wonderfully for squatting.
What I do is I place a wooden kitchen chair facing the toilet, and get it as close to the bowl as possible – mine fits about an inch or two over the lip of the toilet bowl when the seat is up. I squat on the chair and hold on to the back of the kitchen chair (which is facing me.) My butt is over the toilet bowl enough that nothing is going to miss the toilet, but my feet are firmly planted on the chair while I squat.
Oh, and no, we don’t bring the chair back into the dining room
My 7 year old son walked in on my mid squat this morning. He looked at me, and calmly said:
“So, Dada, you finally figured out that it’s okay to go like that?”
I reckon I did, son!!
Squatting is far easier than sitting. Being in India, I have had the occasion to have to use both types and squatting is far easier and less of a strain than sitting. The additional benefit is that it keeps the knee joints flexible and is the best method for those with constipation.
I share almost all of your principles, and found your site a few days ago, beginning with the blueprint article (which I found entertaining as well as intelligent).
Anyway, I had a bout with hemorrhoids a couple of months ago, and I’ve been squatting ever since. And you what, I prefer it. Great info!
Keep up the excellent work.
wow, the amount of comments on this article is insane! Actually, not surprising!
I tried it this weekend on a camping trip, with a toilet. The only thing you have to watch for is the splash factor!
lol randomness made me google this.
but i saw a show on telly that said very similar things. ive tried it and it does wonders.
going to the toilet is so much easier, and faster.. i play a song, go to the toilet and come back before the song has even finished.
You say, “These claims seem a bit more dubious, judging from this study’s conclusion that aberrant crypt foci (ACF) is the most likely cause of colorectal cancer.”
That’s like saying the claim that smoking causes lung cancer is invalid because it’s actually caused by mutations in the K-ras proto-oncogene. Smoking causes the mutations, just as a filthy, inflamed colon causes aberrant crypt foci.
This thread has been a real blast! I’m linking my forum to it.
when in doubt do as we once did. we probably already sit all too much as is!
I tend to only squat if I’m constipated and it helps way more then the regular sitting position on the toilet. I never have to strain when squatting. Also I gave birth natural without pain meds and I naturally pushed while in the squatting position while leaning forward and it was not painful at all. Squatting is the way to go
I’ve been squatting for a year and a half; I started out of desperation after I was having bleeding every time I used the toilet. Now at the age of 40, I’m hemorrhoid-free for the first time since I was 14. Unfortunately, I can’t go anywhere where I don’t have TOTALLY private toilet accommodations. No more visits to relatives, ect. I guess that’s the price I pay not to have it look like I stuck a knife up my *** every time I have a bowel movement…
Cheers to you Mark – one very interesting article on #2’s!
I’ve found with everything south of the border (but not down Mexico way), that eating Primal and [living Primal/] exercising a lot means I have virtually no evacuation issues!
I’m a natural squater!! lol. I’ve been doing it all of my life and i never knew why.I tryed sitting a few times to make myself fit into the normal western way but it was so uncomfortable. i just thought it was another reason why i’m wierd …until i read this post!I had no idea about the medical benifits.Thanks for the information! Oh & more than likely i’ll be squatting for childbirth when that time comes.
Hello,
Thanks for sharing Such a nice information with us.I really like your Information Which you have provided
ive tried to use the squatting toilet in foreign countries but find it too difficult and uncomfortable!
Ya, I agree that all you have to do is look at children. They instinctively squat when pooping…I can recall my little cousins squatting over the toilet when they were small. Ancestors and children can educate us immensely.