World Toilet Day: How A Squat Toilet Benefits Your Health?

Source: Kiki hadi Supriyanto / Getty

Everyone has to go and let it out, but which seat is the best to do so? There’s so many fancy toilets that automatically open and flush or give your bum a heated place to rest but do they benefit your health?

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November 19th is World Toilet Day which was created to “spread and increase public awareness of broader sanitations systems such as wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and hand washing,” as shared on nationaltoday.com. Wold Toilet Day was founded in 2001 by Jack Sim  of The World Toilet Organization in Singapore but became an official holiday in 2013.

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In The United States the most common toilets are referred to as a western toilet or flush toilet. It was invented by Sir John Harington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth I in 1596 in The UK but the flushing toilet didn’t become popular in Europe until the second half of the 19th century. Though this style has been normal here, a squat toilet is standard for most continents around the world. You may have already or will have an experience using one of these as you travel.

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Which Countries Use Squat Toilets?

Countries in Asia, Africa, South America and some in the Middle East all use this type of toilet. They can be a built in structure with a on top or they could simply be a hole in the ground.

How Do You Use A Squat Toilet?

To use a squat toilet you will first need to decide to keep your pants on or take them off (for example if you’re at home, this may be an option to choose). Then you will stand over the toilet and place your feet in the feet slots or on the right and left sides of the hole. Then you will squat down. If squatting is uncomfortable for you or you have “bad knees” you can widen your stance and lean forward with straight arms. Then you will do your business. Afterwards you will clean up by “flushing” the toilet by splashing water in the area and disposing your toilet paper in the trash can that will be near by or in your stall. Toilet paper cannot be flushed down these toilets and will lead to clogging if they are placed inside.

Source: Saran Hansakul / Getty

What Are The Health Benefits of Using a Squat Toilet?

See a few of the health benefits in using a squat toilet provided by wellnesscorner.com, get the full list on their website:

• No contact of thighs/ buttocks to the surface of the toilet, chances of infection are reduced
• Squat position helps to relive the pressure pressure required for evacuation of bowels
• Bowel movement is faster and easier when squatting
• Squat posture helps to protect the nerves that control prostate, uterus and bladder
• Researchers say that squat toilets might be as important as dietary fiber in reducing the risk of colon cancer
• Pregnant women can reduce pressure on the uterus if they use the squat position and it is believed that daily squatting is conducive to normal delivery
• Squatting reduces the risk of piles and appendicitis
• Squat position keeps the knee joints flexible

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Now, we’re definitely not saying you need to drill a hole in the floor of your bathroom but if you’d like to try an entry level squat toilet at home and receive the same benefits, you could use a stool so that your legs are elevated or purchase a Squatty Potty. I hope this article gave you a different perspective to your bathroom and however you celebrate World Toilet Day, we hope you enjoy the potty, I mean party!

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