Turns out there's a 'natural' way to poo, and we've been doing it wrong our whole lives
For each position, the researchers measured abdominal pressures to compare the amount of strain required in order to defecate. They concluded that, “the greater the hip flexion achieved by squatting, the straighter the rectoanal canal will be, and accordingly, less strain will be required for defecation.”
Another study concluded that when humans use a pedestal toilet, our puborectalis muscles “choke” the rectum, whereas when we squat, these muscles are relaxed, which enables a complete evacuation to take place.
Here’s some handy graphics (courtesy of Dookie the Unicorn) to help you visualise the process:
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How to sit in the optimal poo position
Alex Allan, a Nutritional Therapist, recommends the following technique:
