>sitting on toilets—a recent phenomenon, stemming from the invention of the flush toilet in 1591—might be unhealthy
There's a Roman museum near here that has a model barracks toilet which is basically like a modern compost loo - it's like an enclosed bench with holes to defecate through. I guess you might be supposed to stand on it but it's certainly not presented that way.
I've seen toilets in medieval château and castles with wooden seats on a knee height enclosure too. Doesn't appear to be an invention that followed the flush toilet. Nor can I see how a flush toilet would need a change in posture.
This article speaks the truth. I was traveling in China last year and was averse to pooping in the squat toilets there (they're generally quite filthy). In any case, eventually push came to shove and I had to bite the bullet.
It was like an awakening, I had not realized how uncomfortable are our western toilets until this experience.
What if I can't properly squat? How can I overcome this? I've tried doing different squat stretch's but I just can't seem to squat..I'm always on my tippy toes.
Jesus, what the hell is wrong with this guy? Or maybe I'm the freak, but I don't spend ten minutes on the toilet. Usually it takes 30s-2m to do my business.
Yeah, it sounds like this guy has some kind of specific problem, which maybe squatting can relieve.
I looked him up, assuming he might be an old guy, but he appears to be early-to-mid 20s, meaning that spending ten minutes just to take a crap on a regular basis is not normal.
six subjects had their rectums filled with a contrast solution and then released the fluid from a squatting or a sitting position while being filmed with X-ray video.
Kudos to those who participated in the studies (particularly the Japanese study). They sounded extraodinarily uncomfortable. As odd as it sounds, I'm thankful for the lengths some will go for science (I'm going to pretend this was the motivation).
If you're removing your rear from the seat while leaning forward, then maybe. The point of squatting, besides the angle of the innards involved, is the pressure on your bum. Leaning forward, or raising your feet of the ground, as is mentioned, won't decrease the pressure. That motion is more likely to increase the pressure. There are a number of articles regarding this rectal pressure as it contributes to hemorrhoids. IANAD...just my 2 cents.
Or raise your legs a bit, continuing to let the seat carry your weight but raising your knees by pointing your toes or just lifting them. Though I've only thought about trying out squat toilets (or "perching"), I can anecdotally report that leg-raising by itself does have some effect.
There is something else to through into the argument- flexibility.
The use of western toilets reduces our ability to reach the full squat position and some reckon this is why pulled hamstrings and achilles injuries are more common.
When western people squat, we tend to go up on our toes to reach full depth due to our inflexibility gained from using toilets.
This inflexibility changes the way we do things- when a western adult wants to pick up something from the floor they bend over at the hip. Watch a young child that has recently started to walk do it- they do a full squat with their heals on the ground!
My grandfather, a physicist, had many odd friends. One of them was a Brit who in the 1950's invented a toilet that permitted squatting. He said of the work, "I believe the savages had it right all along."
One of them was a Brit who in the 1950's invented a toilet that permitted squatting
I do believe I have seen somewhere a flyer by the British National Health Service advocating putting one's feet on a (step)stool in order to achieve a more optimal position when using a traditional toilet. So perhaps his legacy lives on.
I do it as a weight lifting exercise three times a week. Please squat below parallel (i.e. hip below knees, the bone in your leg should be below parallel to the ground). High squatting above parallel can wreck your knees.
The public squat toilets I've seen have been more of a mess than public sit toilets, and the standing area can be as bad as the porcelain rim of a sit toilet -- a place I would not choose to step. So while more sanitary under ideal proper use, in public places they appear to me less sanitary, at least in their effect on all floors nearby.
I wonder if this contributes to the higher rates of hepatitis and related illnesses in Asia -- and that in turn to the custom of removing shoes before entering households.
I would say that except one or two, all the other public squat toilets which I've seen were horrible. Though I agree that they're more sanitary because your butt doesn't touch them.
For what it's worth, I've been squatting since preadolescence. As a counterpoint to the experience of the sitters in the study who rated their experiences squatting "more comfortable" than sitting, I've tried going back to sitting from time to time to no avail; I find it unnatural and difficult.
I always figured it was because I was used to doing it my way, not because it was easier. I didn't switch for comfort reasons, and certainly I never dreamed it might prevent hemorrhoids later in life!
Besides sitting vs Squatting, the other (and more important) issue with the western style toilet is the use of "papers" instead of bidet (water hose) for cleaning after oneself.
At home we always install a home-made bidet: usually a water hose connected to the shower somehow with a mechanism to turn it on/off.
When I'm in a public place, I try to avoid using public bathrooms. Sometimes I can't avoid it, like when I'm at work.
I was told once that in China, people squat a lot more than in the West. Both for toilet use, but also just for "sitting down" somewhere.
Example: I was told that upon seeing a bench, whereas westerners would normally sit on it, a Chinese person will squat on it. This supposedly also makes their legs much stronger.
Squatting trivia: South Asians do squat in repose, but notice that the heel of the foot is in full contact with the ground.
I read somewhere that the typical Westerner, or someone not used to squatting for extended periods, will squat on the balls of their feet. Apparently this can tire you out quickly.
I'm embarrassed that I can't quite manage to squat on my heels either, despite being South Asian.
This is the stereotypical Asian squat. Interestingly, young children do it by default. I think we lose flexibility as we age. I can't squat back on my heels without straining my shin muscles to keep from falling backwards, but the more I do it, the easier it becomes.
It is certainly a lot healthier for your knees than squatting on the balls of your feet, if only because your knees stay roughly on the same vertical as your toes. This is old powerlifter wisdom, and anyone with a knee injury can tell you first-hand. I can't squat on the balls of my feet without my right knee squealing in pain. Squatting on my heels is, at least, tolerable.
> I was told once that in China, people squat a lot more than in the West. Both for toilet use, but also just for "sitting down" somewhere.
In rural midwest US, the instead-of-sit squat is called a "hunker". Yes, folks talk about "hunkering" and will say "come over her and hunker with us for a while". "Hunker down" is different.
> I was told that upon seeing a bench, whereas westerners would normally sit on it, a Chinese person will squat on it.
I've never seen anyone hunker on a bench - they always hunkered on the ground.
I've been balancing on toilet seats for twenty years. I've broken a few, and dislodged my share of toilets from their anchors to considerable expense. The stability, comfort and ease of Nature's Platform is a great relief.
I lived in Turkey for a while and almost every house has one normal toilet and one old school toilets (hole in the floor) which hasn't got a place to sit so you have to squat.
AFAIK also muslims prefer squating over sitting as it's the suggested practice, also they don't pee standing up (I think this is due to health reasons as well but can be about being clean,not sure).
I always prefer squating over sitting however when you get old generally you need to sit as squatting is literally requires effort, many elderly people sits due to this.
I can't imagine squating in a normal sit toilet, that's just dangerous.
Let's just say that this squatting thing really does have all the benefits that the article says it does.
Does is occur to anyone else that instead of squatting precariously on a sit toilet, risking a fall and backsplash on the feet, one could simply put a stack of phonebooks or a kiddie stool in front of the toilet, and then put your feet on it while you take a dump? Same angle for the core/legs, but less danger.
[+] [-] pbhjpbhj|15 years ago|reply
There's a Roman museum near here that has a model barracks toilet which is basically like a modern compost loo - it's like an enclosed bench with holes to defecate through. I guess you might be supposed to stand on it but it's certainly not presented that way.
I've seen toilets in medieval château and castles with wooden seats on a knee height enclosure too. Doesn't appear to be an invention that followed the flush toilet. Nor can I see how a flush toilet would need a change in posture.
[+] [-] strebler|15 years ago|reply
It was like an awakening, I had not realized how uncomfortable are our western toilets until this experience.
[+] [-] dpritchett|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] euccastro|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jyothi|15 years ago|reply
In public toilets squat toilets are still more hygienic to use than sitting on the western toilet seats.
Moreover if the flush doesn't work, which usually would be the case, you can always pour a bucket of water.
[+] [-] HiroshiSan|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] moultano|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] moultano|15 years ago|reply
Turns out, you only pull your pants down to your knees, so the area between your feet is unobstructed for peeing.
[+] [-] tdfx|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] prototype56|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] unknown|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] autarch|15 years ago|reply
Jesus, what the hell is wrong with this guy? Or maybe I'm the freak, but I don't spend ten minutes on the toilet. Usually it takes 30s-2m to do my business.
Maybe he should consider a change in diet?
[+] [-] hugh3|15 years ago|reply
I looked him up, assuming he might be an old guy, but he appears to be early-to-mid 20s, meaning that spending ten minutes just to take a crap on a regular basis is not normal.
[+] [-] naner|15 years ago|reply
Also you can't read magazines or check email while you're "perched" so maybe that has something to do with it. ;)
[+] [-] antidaily|15 years ago|reply
yikes.
[+] [-] angstrom|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] patrickgzill|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pavel_lishin|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jbrennan|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Qz|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jharrison|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] blahedo|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] snprbob86|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] naner|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|15 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] tomwalker|15 years ago|reply
The use of western toilets reduces our ability to reach the full squat position and some reckon this is why pulled hamstrings and achilles injuries are more common.
When western people squat, we tend to go up on our toes to reach full depth due to our inflexibility gained from using toilets.
This inflexibility changes the way we do things- when a western adult wants to pick up something from the floor they bend over at the hip. Watch a young child that has recently started to walk do it- they do a full squat with their heals on the ground!
[+] [-] kingkawn|15 years ago|reply
The toilet was never produced.
[+] [-] frossie|15 years ago|reply
I do believe I have seen somewhere a flyer by the British National Health Service advocating putting one's feet on a (step)stool in order to achieve a more optimal position when using a traditional toilet. So perhaps his legacy lives on.
(I am too scared to try and google for proof).
[+] [-] helveticaman|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] walkon|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RK|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] eru|15 years ago|reply
I do it as a weight lifting exercise three times a week. Please squat below parallel (i.e. hip below knees, the bone in your leg should be below parallel to the ground). High squatting above parallel can wreck your knees.
[+] [-] RyanMcGreal|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rudyfink|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chrischen|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gojomo|15 years ago|reply
I wonder if this contributes to the higher rates of hepatitis and related illnesses in Asia -- and that in turn to the custom of removing shoes before entering households.
[+] [-] ciupicri|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] djburiedalive|15 years ago|reply
I always figured it was because I was used to doing it my way, not because it was easier. I didn't switch for comfort reasons, and certainly I never dreamed it might prevent hemorrhoids later in life!
[+] [-] hasenj|15 years ago|reply
At home we always install a home-made bidet: usually a water hose connected to the shower somehow with a mechanism to turn it on/off.
When I'm in a public place, I try to avoid using public bathrooms. Sometimes I can't avoid it, like when I'm at work.
[+] [-] edanm|15 years ago|reply
Example: I was told that upon seeing a bench, whereas westerners would normally sit on it, a Chinese person will squat on it. This supposedly also makes their legs much stronger.
Can anyone confirm this?
[+] [-] kranner|15 years ago|reply
I read somewhere that the typical Westerner, or someone not used to squatting for extended periods, will squat on the balls of their feet. Apparently this can tire you out quickly.
I'm embarrassed that I can't quite manage to squat on my heels either, despite being South Asian.
[+] [-] gcheong|15 years ago|reply
http://www.kirainet.com/english/japanese-crouching/
[+] [-] cmurphycode|15 years ago|reply
It is certainly a lot healthier for your knees than squatting on the balls of your feet, if only because your knees stay roughly on the same vertical as your toes. This is old powerlifter wisdom, and anyone with a knee injury can tell you first-hand. I can't squat on the balls of my feet without my right knee squealing in pain. Squatting on my heels is, at least, tolerable.
[+] [-] anamax|15 years ago|reply
In rural midwest US, the instead-of-sit squat is called a "hunker". Yes, folks talk about "hunkering" and will say "come over her and hunker with us for a while". "Hunker down" is different.
> I was told that upon seeing a bench, whereas westerners would normally sit on it, a Chinese person will squat on it.
I've never seen anyone hunker on a bench - they always hunkered on the ground.
[+] [-] wqfeng|15 years ago|reply
But things seem to change a little bit. The white collars think it looks strange. They would rather stand than squat.
Thanks for the post. I don't feel ashamed when waiting for a bus with squat now.
[+] [-] TGJ|15 years ago|reply
http://www.naturesplatform.com/index.html
I've tried myself to squat while hiking outdoors and I keep falling over.
[+] [-] jseifer|15 years ago|reply
I've been balancing on toilet seats for twenty years. I've broken a few, and dislodged my share of toilets from their anchors to considerable expense. The stability, comfort and ease of Nature's Platform is a great relief.
Charlie Walters, M.B.A. Boone, North Carolina
http://www.naturesplatform.com/testimonials.html#Walters
[+] [-] stackthat|15 years ago|reply
AFAIK also muslims prefer squating over sitting as it's the suggested practice, also they don't pee standing up (I think this is due to health reasons as well but can be about being clean,not sure).
I always prefer squating over sitting however when you get old generally you need to sit as squatting is literally requires effort, many elderly people sits due to this.
I can't imagine squating in a normal sit toilet, that's just dangerous.
[+] [-] andrewheins|15 years ago|reply
Does is occur to anyone else that instead of squatting precariously on a sit toilet, risking a fall and backsplash on the feet, one could simply put a stack of phonebooks or a kiddie stool in front of the toilet, and then put your feet on it while you take a dump? Same angle for the core/legs, but less danger.