World Toilet Day 2018: Are Indian-Style Toilets Better for Your Health Than the Western-Style? 7 Ways Why Squatting in the Loo Is Better
Probably the best thing about the Indian-style toilet is the unrestricted bowel movement it provides you with that reduces the faecal accumulation of toxic wastes in your colon.
World Toilet Day is observed on the 19th of November every year. If you are wondering why is a day dedicated to the toilets then you must know toilets and sanitation is a burning topic in our country that requires more attention than what it gets. The day seeks to engage and educate people across the world to the crisis of safe toilets and sanitation facilities and help break the stigma around it. While it is our human right to water and sanitation, a large part of the population is still deprived of toilets and water. The Government of India began with the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) on 2 October 2014 and aimed to eliminate open defecation by the year 2019. Under this campaign, more and more toilets will be constructed to help the people who cannot afford to have a toilet in their homes. While the kinds of toilets built are simple, they are helpful and sufficient. They are made in the Indian style which is also hailed to be great for your overall health. World Toilet Day 2018: Importance of This Day and the Need to Tackle Global Sanitation Crisis.
While we see urban India is inclined towards the sitting toilets aka the western-style toilets, we cannot deny that they don't do many favours to your overall health. The Indian-style toilets also called the squatty toilets have been known to be better for you than the sit and poo toilets and are even suggested by gastroenterologists around the world. The western part of the world prefers to sit while the other areas, especially India prefers to squat in the toilet. The sit or squat debate is age-old, but the Indian style toilets seem to be on the winning side. Various studies have concluded that it is better to squat while pooping than to sit. Here are a few reasons why Indian-style toilet seats are better than the sitting toilet seats.
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- They are more Hygenic- This should be a no-brainer that the Indian- style toilets are more sanitary than the western ones. The squat pose to poop minimises your pelvic area contact with the toilet seat whereas when you sit to poop on the western-style commode, your pelvic area comes in contact with the toilet pot and makes you more prone to the germs lurking on the toilet seat.
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- Squatting is the natural pose for excretion- Human anatomy is built in a way that is naturally more comfortable with the squatting posture than the squatting posture while passing stool. It is way more comfortable than the western toilet.
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- They are great for your digestive system- Believe it or not, the Indian toilets improve the organs involved in the digestion and excretion process by minimising the risk of any kind of faecal stagnation. A good excretion process helps maintain excellent digestive health.
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- Keeps diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), intestinal infections, appendicitis and haemorrhoids at bay- When you squat for passing stool the ileocecal valve that is present between the colon and small intestine is closed safely, on the other hand, the sitting position does not support the valve and therefore slowly contaminates the intestines paving the way for intestinal infections.
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- It is more of an exercise- Squatting an excellent exercise for you. Sitting in the Squatty pose daily helps you remain fit while making you healthier. It relaxes your overall pelvic muscles bu reducing tension to the minimum. While you sit on the western-style toilets, a lot of pressure is put on the thighs and the lower pelvic area creating tension.
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- Help you get rid of constipation- By improving the bowel movements, the squatty pose helps you get rid of constipation. When you sit on the western-style toilet, the puborectalis muscle begins to choke the rectum while the squatting posture relaxes the puborectalis muscle. With no choking when you squat you rectum straightens the rectum allowing unrestricted bowel movement.
- Great for pregnant women- It is claimed that the Indian style toilet is better for pregnant women than the western style because it minimises the pressure on the uterus.
Probably the best thing about the Indian-style toilet is the unrestricted bowel movement that reduces the faecal accumulation of toxic wastes in the colon and prevents a host of infections.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 19, 2018 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).