Squat Toilets: Prevention of Colon Cancer, IBS and Healing for Hemorrhoids?

Why do we in the Western World suffer so many cases of colon cancer, constipation, diverticulitis, IBS, prostate/uterine disorders and other diseases that other countries do not? The answer may well be in whether you use a squat toilet or not.

What is a squat toilet? A toilet that is almost flush with the floor. Yes, you have to "squat" down to do your business. Ewww you may exclaim! But studies show that squatting to potty may well be the way to end many diseases.

In the 1970's Denis Burkitt practiced medicine in Uganda. He noticed that there were not incidences of colon cancer, IBS, etc. After studying this phenomenon he came to two conclusions. 1. He thought that roughage and the lack of it in the Western diet might be the culprit. 2. People that used the squatting position to have a bowel movement did not seem to incur these various diseases.

Western researchers pretty much ignored the number 2 observation and jumped on number 1 (roughage) as the reason.

Although this may be disappointing, it is not surprising. Persuasive evidence that squatting toilets are healthier have been around for some time.

The "modern commode" that the Western countries use was actually a fad started in England and spread its way through the Western World. It was thought fashionable to "sit" on the commode vs. "squat" on a squat toilet. Vanity and fashion won out.

Why does squatting to potty make such a difference? Sitting on a toilet stool and straining to have a bowel movement causes a lot of pressure. Over time, this causes nerve damage to the bladder, prostate and uterus. Organs become prone to disease.

When you sit instead of squat, you do not totally eliminate fecal matter. The stagnation from fecal from incomplete evacuation pollutes the colon. This sets up the body for diseases like diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, IBS, colon cancer and more.

Even armed with this information, people just will not change to a squat toilet. What would company say? Are there some alternatives that can simulate the squat toilet without actually putting one in? Yes.

If you have two bathrooms or more, you might consider putting a squat toilet in one, leaving the other toilet with a commode for company.

You might want to have a small footstool or a couple of large books in the bathroom next to the stool. Just sit on the commode and pull the footstool or books to the front where you can put your feet on them.

This position of sitting on the commode with your feet and knees up will actually give you a close position of squatting. You should have a bowel movement with less pressure and straining. You should also have a more complete bowel movement.

Squat toilets are probably not for everyone. But if they can prevent colon cancer or IBS and if it can heal/prevent hemorrhoids, then maybe they are worth another look.

Squatting vs. sitting; will the Western World come around?