Hey everyone. Today I will be doing a health post about problems with sitting on your toilet. Did you know that our bodies our actually designed to squat while eliminating? However, when we use a modern day toilet, we are not squatting, we are sitting. Sure the modern day toilet is convenient, but it may also be causing some health problems. The problem with sitting on the toilet is the obstructive nature of the recto-anal angle which increases the difficulty in removing the bowels properly. The alignment of the anorectal angle associated with squatting permits smooth bowel elimination and prevents excessive straining. Now lets touch up on some the problems that can occur as a result of this...
Constipation:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that roughly 4-10 million Americans have chronic constipation and as many as 63 million people are suffering at any time from occasional constipation. Instead of changing bathroom habits, people are turning to the "band-aid" solution (quick fix rather than root of the cause) by purchasing laxatives. Every year roughly 5.3 million prescriptions are written for laxatives and roughly $700 million is spent purchasing laxatives every year. That is some serious cash being spent right there.
Hemorrhoids:
When the anorectal is kinked, an upward pressure is placed on the rectum causing feces to remain. This leads to bad bacteria remaining in the body and the result may be hemorrhoids
Colon Disease:
Fecal buildup in the colon can lead to different diseases such as colon cancer. If the colon is "backed up," then our bodies will not be able to fully digest foods and absorb all of the beneficial ingredients and nutrients.
Urinary Difficulties/Infections:
This applies more towards women. Sitting or Hovering over the toilet actually makes it more difficult for women to urinate. The bladder is emptied more effectively when squatting and this can lead to less urinary tract infections.
Pelvic Floor Issues:
Sitting on the toilet is actually a de-evolutionary process or our normal evolutionary biology. Our bodies were designed to squat. Unfortunately, due to too much sitting, we are not using our muscles in the way they were desgined. This is leading to limited mobility and flexibility to the point now where many people cannot even squat anymore.
So how do we solve this issue of sitting on the toilet? You need to elevate your feet while using the bathroom. You can use any object, but one that is easy to use is the Squatty Potty. This goes underneath your toilet and when you are ready to use it, you just put your feet on it. That is all. Now your body simulates a squat. The Squatty Potty allows your colon to open up and relax in order to eliminate quickly and completely. This will help prevent all five issues listed above. I personally use one, and it's great. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you soon.
Reference used: https://www.squattypotty.com/blog/5-problems-with-sitting-on-your-toilet/