As a person trying to live a healthy lifestyle, I have a lot to think about. Am I eating enough fibre? Do I get enough exercise? Is my sunscreen safe? Should I drink more/less coffee? But I gotta tell ya, I never thought I’d have to consider that the way I use the washroom may be bad for my health. Well now, this article from Salon.com has brought the issue to my (reluctant) attention.

According to the article, some people claim that the way in which we sit on the loo may lead to health problems. It seems that there’s a school of thought that hails squatting as the best position for completely ridding the colon of toxins. Sitting on the john, they say, causes your colon to bend in an angle that obstructs elimination. Some “squat evangelist” (love that term, Salon) even claim that sitting while going number two could actually lead to colon cancer and Crohn’s disease.

While the article quickly notes that there’s no evidence to support the cancer claim, but the author does cite studies that suggest that squatting, rather than sitting, reduces the risk of hemorrhoids. The author even tried squatting himself for a week and found it to be a more comfortable way to go.

Even so, dear readers, I will not be trying out this method for myself. Though millions of people across the world do squat, I will not be one of them (unless I’m camping or travelling—and even then it’s something I rather dread).

What do you think about this squatting theory?

Related:
• 5 myths and truths about public washrooms
• What's inside your colon
• 10 ways to get more fibre