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How bathroom posture affects your health.

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Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#71

Post by [deleted] »

gojomo wrote: post #58
chrischen wrote: post #5

Squat toilets are also more sanitary. I'd much prefer public toilets in the US be of the squat variety.

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 illne…

[deleted]

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#72

Post by eru »

bombs wrote: post #48
pbhjpbhj wrote: post #9

>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 c…

The ruins of Leptis Magna, Roman ruins dating from 1100 BCE–650 CE, features sit-down toilets. http://www.flickr.com/photos/libyan_soup/650693182/

I have heard people argue, that the Roman toilets were for squatting on top.

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#73

Post by munchhausen »

gojomo wrote: post #58
chrischen wrote: post #5

Squat toilets are also more sanitary. I'd much prefer public toilets in the US be of the squat variety.

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 illne…

> 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.

Removing shoes before entering households is standard practice in quite a few (most?) European countries as well, so I imagine it is not related to higher rates of hepatitis and subsequent fear of infection.

(Frankly, from a subjective viewpoint, I consider this custom to be related mostly to common sense. It seems mind-boggling to me not to remove shoes before entering your home. Not only does it keep your home cleaner, but it is more comfortable to boot.

The only valid exception would be not asking guests to remove shoes, since they may not be comfortable with that.)

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#74

Post by eru »

dpritchett wrote: post #30
strebler wrote: post #8

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.

See the award-winning "How to do the Asian Squat" documentary from 2002: http://vimeo.com/12977039

I'd say mockumentary. Highly enjoyable, but if you actually want to learn how to squat properly, then Craig Weller has some advice in "The Third-World Squat" (http://www.t-nation.com/portal_includes/articles/2007/07-210...).

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#75

Post by khafra »

HiroshiSan wrote: post #59
strebler wrote: post #8

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.

Take a look at your shins. Mine have a significant negative camber, curving out to about 10-15 degrees. Because this puts my feet a few inches forward of a normal person's, I can't rest in a squat; I have to actively lean way forward.

If your shins are normal, though, just work on the leg strength to control your descent, and the ankle forward flexibility required to shift your center of gravity the inch or so foward to compensate for going from the balls of your feet to the whole foot.

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#76

Post by eru »

jackvalentine wrote: post #69
jyothi wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here in Asia, you most always find both western and squat toilet in houses, hotels and public toilets. 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.

At the risk of sounding quite childish - I've never used a squat toilet, is there much chance of you accidently soiling your pants when using one?

I spent a few month in Turkey, and I never did spoil anything.

For public toilets, I actually preferred the squatting version: You do not have to touch them. Just remember to bring your own toilet paper.

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#77

Post by eru »

HiroshiSan wrote: post #59
strebler wrote: post #8

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.

I just submitted an article that deals with the matter (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1652595). The short version: Practice. Hold onto something at first, if you can't keep your balance.

(I do recommend dry practice.)

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#78

Post by khafra »

rue wrote: post #67
stackthat wrote: post #61

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…

> I can't imagine squating in a normal sit toilet, that's just dangerous. Only if you have trouble supporting your bulk, be it due to obesity or lack of muscle conditioning. Or balance issues, obviously.

Are you imaginining standing on the seat, standing on the rim, or standing on the ground in a martial arts horse stance? Because I can see significant possible problems with all of these. (technically, problems with the last would be due to "lack of muscle conditioning," but not many people are conditioned well enough to stay in a horse stance for long).

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#79

Post by eru »

RK wrote: post #31

The study claims squatting is better than sitting for hemorrhoids, but what is the effect of squatting on the knees?

Deep squatting is good for the knees.

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.

Re: How bathroom posture affects your health.

#80

Post by eru »

kranner wrote: post #62
sliverstorm wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO it's because they are two different kinds of squats. On the balls of your feet, you a ready to spring into action at any second- it is more like a quick breather than a resting position. It comes much more naturally. On your heels, you can't exactly break into an instant run.

That was just my point - it comes naturally to Westerners because they are not used to squatting. South Asians can execute either stance equally naturally. I've seen people go from standing to squatting position (not in a toilet) and they don't go through an intermediate ball-of-foot-squatting phase.

Yes. But sliverstorm wasn't saying that they go through an intermediate ball-of-foot-squatting.

By the way, practice makes perfect in squatting as in every thing else.

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