Slate.com has a special feature about how toilet posture affects your health. The article praised the Japanese toilet. But not the Toto kind with the bidet and sound muffler that’s always featured in foreign news -- the old-fashioned squat-style Japanese toilet. The article quoted a proctologist named Michael Freilich, who said that, “we were not meant to sit on toilets. We were meant to squat in the field.” Apparently, adopting a more natural squat posture can help to combat Crohn’s disease hemorrhoids and possibly even colon cancer.
“Before we dive into the data, let's review the mechanics of going to the bathroom. People can control their defecation, to some extent, by contracting or releasing the anal sphincter. But that muscle can't maintain continence on its own. The body also relies on a bend between the rectum—where feces builds up—and the anus—where feces comes out. When we're standing up, the extent of this bend, called the anorectal angle, is about 90 degrees, which puts upward pressure on the rectum and keeps feces inside. In a squatting posture, the bend straightens out, like a kink ringed out of a garden hose, and defecation becomes easier.”
The first time I ever used a squat toilet was in the south of France, on a small island called Île de Porquerolles. I only used it because there was no other public toilet in the area. I wasn’t used to it at all. Then, I started thinking about how I don’t sit on public toilets anyway. Most girls I know “hover” to pee, and if they absolutely must sit down, they line the seat with toilet paper or use that special paper seat. The squat toilet makes more sense to me.
The more I started to travel, the more I welcomed public squat toilets. In Africa, I always chose the squat over the sit-down toilet. I found squat toilets in Italy, France, Turkey and all over China. In Tokyo, the house I stayed at in Kichijoji had a squat toilet as the main toilet on my floor, so I didn’t use a sit-down toilet for almost a year. I’m fine with either style, but I will choose a squat toilet if I’m ever faced with a choice in a public washroom. It just seems cleaner and quicker.
Which do you use? Why?
8 comments:
I prefer a western style toilet because i can't hold a squat position for too long. When I travelled to SE Asia, I did squat training before I travelled!
When I see the old ladies use the squat toilets in Japan, I think they must have awesome thighs!
When I was last in Japan, I used a few squat toilets when there was no other choice. Each time, I found it dirty and smelly and I will always prefer a seat toilet.
I also can't stand when the toilets in Japan have no toilet paper, like in Kyoto station. I don't understand it.
julie i absolutely agree with you on your points on hygiene. i also avoid making physical contact with public toilets. if given a choice, i'd go for the squat toilet too. my beef with them though, is that in my experience they tend to be smelly and dirty! i'm sure that if western toilets existed in the same sort of places as where i experienced squat toilets they'd probably be much dirtier though.
Oh, by the way, I watched the film Sakuran on your recommendation on here some time ago. You're right, it was visually stunning. And the soundtrack is great (Shiina Ringo is one of my favourite musicians). I didn't like the screenplay itself so much though! it was so-so. But, thanks for the recommendation :)
Give me Western anyday. How can you go #2 squatting? My legs would give out.
Japanese grannies can do it.
If you use it regularly, your thighs get used to it. But like anything. I like yoga and stretching, so I've always been able to keep positions for long periods of time. Seiza is still hard for me, though!
I hate the no toilet paper, too, Sarah!!
Those years of forced PE help with the squating.
Hi Julie,
Squat-style toilets are common in India too and I prefer these toilets over the Western toilets anytime. Yes, they could be smelly in the public places, but atleast I can avoid having to touch the toilet (I too "hover" when I go to a Western toilet - and that is much harder on the legs than squatting). Also, squatting is good for pregnant ladies as it helps during delivery. So thumbs up for the squat-style toilet!!!!! I will definitely have one installed in my house, once I buy it.
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