I have a friend who at one time found my suggestions for a bathroom remodel humorous after I said “the biomechanics of a lower commode aid in elimination for a more complete evacuation.” I remember he look at me oddly and then guffawed. I translated into graphic English for him, which I won’t share here. But the point remains valuable even if the issue is not a bathroom remodel.
Discussions of the bathroom are not new. In 1938, U.S. philosopher, Lewis Mumford, wrote “today, the degradation of the inner life is symbolized by the fact that the only place sacred from interruption is the private toilet.” Ah, yes, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Or rather just when you thought that the toilet was the one remaining place of solace, along comes someone (like me) to say, “we have a problem here, too.”
There has been a long standing (if unspoken) admiration of the toilet bowl, but it is definitely undeserved. It’s not historically certain where the original toilet was developed, but it became popular in mid-1800s England where the modern commode was designed by a cabinet-maker and a plumber.
It took longer to get to the US, where many of us remember having parents, or at least grandparents, with the discreet non-plumbed chamber pot hidden under the bed. Nevertheless, the carpenter’s commode quickly spread to all parts of the civilized world, as did its accompanied plumbing, both allowing for the discreet disposal of waste and resolving the chamber bowl problems forever. Done deal? As delightful and healthful as the newfound sanitary procedures and privacy were, the structure of the toilet itself was, and continues to be, a biomechanical fiasco. It has remained a hero while all along shortening the possibility of our optimal life span and healthiest of aging. And since Aging with Pizzazz is about capturing the low-hanging fruit, I can’t pass up this opportunity to discuss the lowest.
It’s Not a Recent Complaint
The author of a 1924 book “The Culture of the Abdomen” put it succinctly:
It would have been better that the contraption
had killed its inventor before he launched it under humanity’s buttocks.
Why such diatribe and anathema? Because this western toilet changed the dynamics of elimination. We work harder and the results are poorer. You might still be thinking, what is the problem? Boorish as the idea may seem, the problem is that we are naturally meant to squat. Only squatting allows us the proper and more easily achieved elimination. This may help explain why research shows people of Africa, South Europe and parts of Italy are able to easily eliminate twice as much waste compared to what the western world hangs on to for so long.
I have written about this for years, but it was only recently that I actually saw a related commercial. While I don’t like to promote products (and I do provide some alternatives to this below), I have to encourage viewing of the commercial for the Squatty Potty. [You can click on the YouTube video immediately below.] WARNING: you MUST have a wry sense of humor not to choke on it, but the video will help demonstrate some of my points to follow. If you read first, make sure you come back to this for your hearty laugh of the day.
Why the Toilet Fails
- Siting as we do on the toilet robs our abdominal wall and colon of needed support.
… - The ileocecal valve (ICV) is mechanically compromised. The ICV prevents the reflux of fecal contents into the small intestines, or is at least supposed to. However because it is less able to perform its function in this position more fecal toxins travel up the small intestines and more are absorbed into the blood stream. This significantly increases the burden on the blood stream and negatively impacts all other organs. This poor function of the ICV is now so commonplace that modern day physicians have called it inherently incompetent. Anatomists claim this poor functioning should not be the case.
- The typical position on the toilet creates a stricture in the sigmoid and rectal areas of the bowel.
… 
When using the toilet (in the typical position versus a squatting position) no mechanical pressure is applied to the two most commonly infected areas of the bowel (cecum and sigmoid). This allows fecal matter to stagnate there and again taxes the bloodstream with further toxic burden.
…- Incomplete elimination of the bowel. A few rare studies on the subject have actually shown that a greater load is eliminated per day by the same person simply if they squat instead of sit in the traditional position on the commode.
If you have sought out other means of ‘detoxing’ (more expensive and generally less proven), it might be wise to skip the colonic and start with the squat.
In my mind, I can hear the voices of my own relatives gasping at the notion of squatting. You could substitute the word ‘crouching’ if that feels more refined – it still aids the tiger in your tank. Either way, the use of the toilet is a recent tradition developed in relative ignorance without any regard to the mechanics of the human body.
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Skip the Remodel
What can you do? Short of tearing your toilet out of the wall and digging a hole in the floor of your nicely appointed bathroom; what’s reasonable? There are a couple steps to take.
The first answer to the problem was developed in the same era as the toilet itself but got lost along the way. The solution to the dilemma was a footstool. It elevated the feet to approximate the squatting position. At that time in history it was so popular that the stool was in stock at Harrods’ Department Store of London. [I admit I would love to know how the prestigious store packaged the shopping item for their elegant clientele.] Today there are still companies that manufacture footstools for this purpose (as is the Squatty Potty above). After drafting this post and along the lines of ‘what a weird coincidence,’ I even saw the Squatty Potty being sold ($25) at the ubiquitous Bed Bath and Beyond store. It had a sign saying ‘as seen on TV show the Shark Tank.’ So perhaps some of you have a head start learning about this one product.
However, it is not necessary to buy an ‘especially-designed-for’ creation. An 8 – 12” box or home footstool will do the trick. Place it under your feet while on the commode to simulate the desired squatting position.
Another item that can be used for this squatting problem is commonly available – a pair of blocks (sometimes designed like wedges) kept alongside the base of the commode. They can serve two functions. They can actually aid the crouching position similarly to a footstool, and stretch the leg muscles, which are shortened by the lack of squatting positions in our life. While sitting with your feet resting on the blocks, the legs (and subsequently, the body) take a position that more closely simulates squatting. Glass blocks used in wall construction from home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes are a bit heavy, but still are inexpensive and attractive, and work as well.
NO – Not THAT
All my good reading, you might say, was done in the toilet. . .
There are passages in Ulysses which can be read only in the toilet –
if one wants to extract the full flavor of their content.
Henry Miller
One more thing! After the time of potty-training, toilet use is no longer a spectator sport; you should have privacy. Still, that means no one can check up on the bad things you do. Before your mind wanders elsewhere, I mean reading on the toilet. Contrary to Henry Miler’s advice, it is not good to read Ulysses, or anything else, while you are on the potty.
I might suggest that it somehow feels like an even greater faux pas to engage in social media at this time. Or worse, being on the phone. Researchers claim both of these behaviors are done more frequently by men than women. [Did they REALLY research THAT?] Either way, I say let’s dump that.
Gant, a writer in 1909 says bathroom reading is a “pernicious habit and common source of constipation because it diverts the mind.” Some physicians actually suggest patients get something to read and sit in the bathroom for 10 minutes after every meal to coax elimination. But remember, under normal conditions the rectum is empty. Thus, this is not the best advice. Better to choose diets and positioning behaviors that coax elimination and leave the toilet for the real thing.
Betsy
Betsy, an older woman I knew said “I always bring something in the bathroom to read because I once heard a doctor say women do not take the time they should going to the bathroom.” The problem here is that, more than likely, the doctor meant women do not take the time from their duties to enter the bathroom – thinking they are too busy when the feeling to defecate strikes. Putting this feeling off can cause Betsy problems and constipation, but taking time by reading on the toilet will not conquer these problems compared to the good elimination habits mentioned above. No surprise, her success with the ‘reading material’ method was not satisfactory.
Extra commode ‘sitting’ has been linked to hemorrhoids, constipation and other disturbances in the rectum and anus. Ayurvedic physicians also advise against reading ‘on the throne,’ clarifying that it is “best not to divide your intentions.”
Proper behavior at the toilet is like a good game of marbles, you have to squat and keep your mind totally on the game. And the longer we can play correctly, the longer we can play, period.
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Don’t forget to view the commercial and the tips from the unicorn.
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Title picture: Image by Merry Christmas from Pixabay;
Historic public domain Marbles game shows Congressman Simeon D. Fess (R) playing marbles (from marblesgalore.com)
What interesting and helpful info. I have a stool in the bathroom for the grand kids. Guess I’ll use it too 🙂 It was also very funny as most of your writing is. Keep ’em com’n.
Linda
What a great idea – double ‘duty’ for your current stool.
I hope people are able to see beyond the humor to realize how very important this particular blog is. Glad you braved a comment!
Thanks for reading. dr b