It’s something you probably do every day, even twice a day (or more). And science is here to tell you, you’re doing it WRONG.
Some people find it hilarious, others, entirely distasteful. For most of us, it’s just not really something we think or talk about all that often, we just, (perhaps with a little help from our old mate Metamucil) do it.
If you’ve been lucky enough to travel to Japan, Sri Lanka, Egypt or Greece you have probably been over come with worry (and a lack of faith in your quad muscles) at the thought of a squat toilet. But apparently we are the odd ones out, with over 2/3 of the global population squatting on the daily, and according to German scientists, it is the best way to ‘go’. Literally.
Apparently, when we sit on a toilet we put a kink in the hose, so to speak. In her book Charming Bowels, Giulia Enders, a microbiologist whose speciality is all things faecal, explains that by sitting and not squatting, we fail to “open the hatch completely,” thereby making everything a lot more difficult to push out.
According to Enders, “1.2 billion people around the world who squat have almost no incidence of diverticulosis and fewer problems with piles. We in the west, on the other hand, squeeze our gut tissue until it comes out of our bottoms.” An appealing thought, apologies if you are reading this before tucking into your porridge.
If you have just completed that rather expensive bathroom reno, or you know, don’t want to install a squat toilet, there is a simple solution. The Guardian reports, just put a stool (pun 100% intended) at the base of your toilet to prop up your feet, and lean forward. It’ll be easy as 1, 2… well, yeah number 2 really.
How would you feel about squatting? Willing to give it a shot?
For more, ahem, Number 2 News, check these out:
Plane forced to land because of a very smelly poo. Yes, really.
Brace yourself: Everything you knew about the Poo Emoji is a lie.
Pinchapoo wants you to steal hotel toiletries. For a good cause, obviously.
This *sshole owl shitting all over his friend is just a metaphor for life, really.
Top Comments
Women sit to use the toilet a few times a day. Are we to squat each time, or have a second toilet? A bit difficult for older women, and pregnant ladies.
What about really obese people with arthritic knees and backs? How are they meant to sit on the floor or squat to go to the toilet? No,seriously......it is just not possible for them to do this.
Read the last paragraph
Thank you Amy. I did read the last paragraph,however I am talking about someone who weighs about 170kgs and is a size 26-28. She can hardly get up from a chair,and it would be impossible for her.
I meant the bit about using a stool under your feet.
Thanks Amy,but no can do. She wouldn't even be able to lift her legs to put on the stool.