Why more and more people are joining the Squatty Potty squad
You name it, we’ve tried it. The fact of the matter is, there isn’t a single health fad out there that can intimidate us anymore.
And it just so happens that there’s a new craze that has revolutionised dinner party conversation.
It seems anybody who owns a Squatty Potty is desperate to talk about poop at every given opportunity. Yes, even at the table.
But upon further inspection, it’s hardly surprising. Hear us out…
A post shared by Squatty Potty® toilet stool (@squattypotty) on Sep 8, 2017 at 12:50am PDT
Centuries ago (before the toilet was invented), we would squat to poop. In fact, a third of the world still does. And ever since we began to use the bathroom, we’ve become prone to dealing with countless health problems from haemorrhoids to constipation.
But the Squatty Potty (a revolutionary stool) is designed to combat these issues by elevating our feet from the ground and returning our bodies to the natural pooping pose they were destined for.
And with the rise of the Squatty Potty fanbase, we asked pelvic floor expert Stephanie Taylor what all the fuss is about…
Who should give the Squatty Potty a go?
Leading pelvic floor expert and founder of health brand Kegel8 Stephanie Taylor describes the Squatty Potty as a ‘health revolution’ and is a huge advocate of the invention.
She told Yahoo Style UK: “Young children love it because their legs aren’t dangling over the edge of the toilet. While men and women alike enjoy the benefits of a fuller evacuation, with less wiping as there is little mess when you use a Squatty Potty because elimination is much more thorough.”
She continued, “It’s a really delicate subject to talk about, and we Brits are quite conservative about our toilet habits. Constipation costs the NHS over £145 million last year, that doesn’t include over the counter remedies so this shows what a huge, uncomfortable problem it is.”
It makes pooping generally a whole lot easier
There is no other way of putting it, the Squatty Potty makes going to the toilet a much more comfortable experience.
The colon (which removes waste from the body) features a natural bend known as the anorectal angle. And our puborectalis muscle is designed to maintain this angle. But sitting on the toilet only partially relaxes the muscle meaning that the colon is still kinked in shape.
Therefore, it can be difficult to go to the bathroom (which is only be worsened by constipation). But the beauty of the Squatty Potty is that it loosens the muscles and creates a direct passageway for faeces to pass through.
It can help to prevent haemorrhoids
Though we may feel awkward even talking to our doctor about piles, the truth is that over half of us will have experienced them by the age of 50.
And the last thing you want when suffering from haemorrhoids is to be causing more pain by straining during bowel movements or spending too much time on the toilet courtesy of constipation.
But the Squatty Potty is designed to reduce the chances of haemorrhoids and for those suffering, will make going to the bathroom a whole lot more comfortable.
The Squatty Potty can help get things moving
According to the website, the Squatty Potty is designed to help beat constipation. The raised stool encourages gravity to do all of the hard work, as the weight of your torso presses against your thighs to naturally compress the colon.
The squatting action also elevates the sigmoid colon which takes pressure off of the puborectalis muscle as explained earlier. This helps to prevent incontinence.
And finally, the colon has two valves – the inlet valve (the ileocecal valve) and the outlet valve (the puborectalis muscle). When squatting, the inlet valve is closed as the outlet valve opens which ensures that the small intestine stays clean while allowing waste to pass through the rectum with ease. Sitting on the toilet doesn’t have the same effect.
It can strengthen your pelvic floor
It is estimated that approximately one in three women and one in ten men across the UK suffer from some form of incontinence. For many of us, it may just seem like a symptom of age but it is in fact preventable.
The Squatty Potty is designed to help stop users from straining while using the toilet and this in turn reduces the risk of nerve or muscle damage.
Pelvic floor expert Stephanie Taylor revealed: “Straining to poo and constipation is a major cause of pelvic floor problems that can eventually lead to prolapse (where the pelvic organs fall out of place) because the constant straining weakens the muscles.”
She continued, “Taking the pressure off the pelvic floor by adopting this squatting position can prevent weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.”
We don’t know about you but we’re sold.
The Squatty Potty is available on Amazon or direct from the website from £27.00.
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