Squatty Potty Blog
Paleo Poopers: How to Deal with Caveman Constipation
You switched to a paleo diet — lots of veggies, a moderate amount of meat and eggs, a small amount of fruit for dessert, and perhaps some dairy. Good for you. You’re probably healthier than ever before. And now that you’ve gotten off the roller coaster of energy spikes and dips from consuming too much sugar and starch, you’re probably feeling better than ever. Trouble is, now you’re constipated. If this diet is healthier, why isn’t it making you poop healthier, too? And, more importantly, what can you do about it? What’s Causing My Constipation? Whenever you drastically change the way you eat, your body needs time to transition how it functions. With the paleo meal plan and lifestyle, the transition may be even more challenging, for several reasons: You’re switching your fuel source from sugar (and other simple carbs, such as bread and pasta) to fat. You’re probably eating less fiber, especially if you’re loading up on meat and not so much on vegetables or if you’ve switched to a low-carb paleo diet, avoiding certain fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes. You’re probably consuming fewer calories, so you have less waste — less poop. What Can I Do About It? Fortunately, you can usually cure caveman constipation without giving up your paleo ways. The first step is to understand the composition of healthy poop: 75% water 7.5% undigested fiber and solidified components of digestive juices 7.5% bacteria 2.5% to 5% fat 2.5% to 5% inorganic matter .5% to .75% protein To alleviate your constipation, you need to give your body, and the microbes that reside in your lower digestive tract, the nutrients they need to produce the ingredients for healthy poops: Drink sufficient amounts of fluids. Water is best, but other fluids count, too. Diuretics, such as beverages containing caffeine and alcohol, may be counterproductive. Eat more plants than animals. If you’re loading up on meat, eggs, and dairy and ignoring veggies, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds, try eating less of the former (animal-based products) and more of the latter (plant-based products). Plant-based foods contain the two types of fiber your body needs: Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber absorbs water and turns into gelatinous mush. It slows the absorption of sugar into your system, bulks up your poop, helps to eliminate toxic waste and maintain a healthy pH (acidity) in the intestines, and nourishes the beneficial microbes in your gut. (For more about feeding the friendly microbes, see our previous post, “Restoring Intestinal Flora Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop.”) Insoluble fiber: Insoluble fiber is found in vegetables, fruit and potato skins, seeds, and nuts. It retains a lot of water and helps to keep waste moving through the colon and to control and balance pH, but it’s largely un-fermentable, meaning it’s not the greatest food source for your friendly microbes. Take a probiotic. A probiotic consists of live bacteria that can restore or add to your friendly intestinal microbes. You can take a probiotic daily, but more importantly, take a probiotic for several weeks after taking an antibiotic. Probiotics are present in in some foods, including live-cultured yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, miso, and tempeh, and they’re available as supplements. Take a prebiotic daily. A prebiotic is soluble fiber that nourishes the microbes already in your digestive tract, in addition to delivering all the other benefits of soluble fiber. Prebiotics are contained in many foods, including beans, vegetables (especially Brussels sprouts, turnips, sweet potatoes, squash, and asparagus), fruits (especially apricots, grapefruit, oranges, and mangoes), nuts, and seeds. You can also buy prebiotics as supplements, typically psyllium. Make sure you’re getting enough potassium and magnesium. If you switched to a low-carb paleo diet, you may be avoiding some of the best sources of potassium, including bananas and sweet potatoes. Taking a good multi-vitamin that contains potassium and magnesium, both of which support motility (the contraction of muscles that mix and propel contents in the gastrointestinal tract), may help. However, avoid taking massive amounts of potassium or magnesium, because doing so can lead to imbalances that cause other health problems. Be patient. Give your body some time to adjust to the paleo diet and to any changes you make, including upping your fiber intake and taking a probiotic. A paleo diet is healthier than the Standard American Diet (SAD), but your body needs time to adjust. If you’re currently following a paleo diet or you tried it and decided it wasn’t for you, please share your experience and insights. Did it make you constipated? If so, what did you try to alleviate the constipation? What was most or least helpful? If you tried the paleo diet and then returned to a more “normal” diet, why did you switch back? encouragement, and information. Let us know how you approached this condition — what helped and what didn’t. Help shorten the journey from illness to wellness for others! – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post on the paleo diet provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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10 Tips for More Predictable Poops
Irregularity got you down? Do your poops seem to experience chronic flight delays? Do they get hung up in the morning’s rush hour traffic? Do they come out soupy one day and like adobe bricks the next? Well, we can help with that. Here we offer ten suggestions to achieving healthier, more predictable poops. It’s all about consistency — both in timing and texture. Follow these 10 suggestions, and you’ll be well on your way to poops that move down the tracks as smoothly as Japanese maglev trains. Start by Keeping Your Eyes on the Goal When we say “regular,” what does that mean, exactly? What’s normal? What’s healthy? Fortunately, doctors have been examining bowel movements and stool for millennia to diagnose illness. What have they concluded? Generally speaking, “normal” means pooping one to three times daily, and, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), healthy stools are medium brown floaters with little or no sheen. Researchers at the Bristol Royal Infirmary — part of a dynamic and thriving group of hospitals in the heart of Bristol, England — have developed a more systematic gauge for judging the consistency of stools called the Bristol Stool Form or BSF scale, shown below. According to the BSF, stool types 1-3 are too hard, types 4 and 5 are just right, and types 6 and 7 are too soft. Unfortunately, the BSF doesn’t include anything about color, scent, or density (whether it floats or sinks), but it’s a pretty good gauge of whether you’re consuming enough water and fiber and whether you have some sort of intestinal infections or imbalances. So, if you’re pooping one to three times daily, and you’re squeezing out snakes or soft blobs, you’re in good shape. No need to change anything. On the other hand, if you’re pooping too often or less frequently than once a day, and if you’re laying bricks or squirting Hershey syrup, the following suggestions can remedy the situation. Use Common Sense: Listen to Your Body… and Your Doctor The suggestions we offer here are just that: suggestions. We are not your doctor, and we aren’t privy to details about your body, diet, lifestyle, and frequency or consistency of your poops. Tune in to what your body tells you. If you up your fiber intake, for example, and start experiencing loose stools, the added fiber may be doing more harm than good. Try different methods, choose what works, and ignore the rest. And always consult with your doctor over any serious or persistent problems. Consume Enough Fiber Hard poops typically indicate three problems. You’re not getting enough: Fiber (prebiotics) Water Probiotics Let’s start with fiber. According to the National Academies Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for macronutrients, the average woman should be eating 21-26 grams, and the average man should be consuming 30-38 grams daily, depending on their age. Most people consume only about 15 grams of total fiber daily. You can boost your fiber intake by eating more high-fiber foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes (beans), and whole grains. All of these sources of fiber contain water, so if you’re getting your fiber through food, you’re also boosting your water intake. Whether you need to take a fiber supplement is something to discuss with your doctor. Too much fiber can cause problems, as well, especially if you’re not consuming enough water. Drink Enough Water The standard advice on water consumption is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily; that’s 64 ounces, a half-gallon. According to the DRI, you need even more than that; women should be consuming about 2.7 liters (about three quarts) of water daily, and men should be drinking about 3.7 liters (just shy of a gallon). That’s a lot of water! Warning: Many people misinterpret that recommendation by failing to account for the water in foods and beverages. Water in juice, milk, coffee, tea, soda, and so on, also count toward your daily water consumption, as does the water contained in solid foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, meat, cheese, and yogurt. Yes, drinking water is better for you than drinking soda, but if you’re struggling to drink a gallon of water daily, and you’re peeing all the time, you’re probably overdoing it. Supplement with Pre- and Probiotics Dry stools are often an indication of an imbalance of intestinal flora or gut bacteria and yeasts. These microorganisms in your intestines help to digest your food. They also retain the water that softens stool. An overgrowth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi can interfere with digestion and cause a host of health problems that impact bowel movements or make the stool too hard or too soft. Prebiotics (dietary fiber) and probiotics (beneficial live bacteria and yeast cultures) can help restore a healthy balance. For details, see our recent blog post, “Restoring Intestinal Flora Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop.” Embrace the Foods That Bind If your stools are runny, consider a temporary shift to the BRAT diet: Bananas Rice Applesauce (not apples) Toast Other foods that can be helpful in alleviating temporary bouts of diarrhea are white bread, peeled potatoes, white pasta, rice, and peanut butter, but any bland, low-fiber foods can help to alleviate diarrhea. Avoid high-fiber foods, such as prunes, berries, cabbage, broccoli, beans, lentils, fatty meats, and greasy foods. Also avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugary drinks, and carbonated beverages. Although the BRAT diet is still recommended by some doctors, it’s only a temporary fix, and it is being phased out. Now, the Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with mild diarrhea continue to eat a normal diet supplemented with commercially available electrolyte solutions to replace the water and salts lost during diarrhea. If diarrhea is severe or persistent or accompanied by a fever of over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, seek medical attention. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which poses a serious health risk. Embrace These Stool-Loosening Foods It’s common knowledge that certain foods, such as prunes, can help you poop, but prunes haven’t cornered the market. Here’s a list of 14 foods to help grease the ol’ poop chute: Beans Kiwi Sweet potatoes Corn and popcorn (poopcorn?) Nuts and seeds Whole grain breads and cereals Prunes, plums, pears, apples Berries Flaxseed Broccoli, green beans, spinach Dried fruit Coffee Yogurt Aloe vera juice And don’t forget the water! Put Your Body in Motion One sure fire way to cure constipation is to take a long jog to somewhere miles away from any toilet. As soon as you’re a safe distance from any convenient dropping point, you will have an uncontrolled urge to do your business. We don’t have any medical studies to support this phenomenon, only plenty of anecdotal evidence. It’s called the “runner trots.” But seriously, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, regular physical activity, not necessarily an exercise regimen, can help with chronic constipation (CC), especially in older people who are less active. As for younger patients, the study concludes that exercise appears “to have little improvement in bowel function unless they engage in vigorous exercise.” The study goes on to state that “Exercise can still be recommended to patients because it improves quality of life and has other health benefits unrelated to CC.” Relax Stress is tough on your entire nervous system, part of which, the enteric nervous system (ENS), is devoted to controlling your digestive tract. For many people, stress contributes to constipation. For others, it gives them the collywobbles (stomach ache) and diarrhea. In an article posted on Harvard Healthbeat entitled “The gut-brain connection,” Editor in Chief Anthony L. Komaroff points out that “the gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotion. Anger, anxiety, sadness, elation — all of these feelings (and others) can trigger symptoms in the gut.” In fact, results of a study conducted at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), both Harvard affiliates, show that a nine-week training program that included elicitation of the relaxation response had a “significant impact on clinical symptoms of the gastrointestinal disorders irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and on the expression of genes related to inflammation and the body’s response to stress.” (See “Genomic and Clinical Effects Associated with a Relaxation Response Mind-Body Intervention in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease” published in PLOS One.) If you’re feeling stressed out and experiencing bowel irregularities, you may want to look into starting a relaxation regimen centered on yoga, mindfulness, tai-chi, or some other deep relaxation technique. Review Your Medications Experiencing chronic constipation or diarrhea? The root cause may be sitting in your medicine cabinet. Many medications can negatively impact digestion, including the little purple pill and its cousins, which are commonly prescribed for acid reflux (heartburn). If you’re having trouble pooping, we urge you to consult with your doctor, who can review your medications (both prescription and over the counter), and help you determine whether one or more of them may be the culprit(s). When You Gotta Go, Go! A busy schedule isn’t the most conducive for regularity. As a result, many people resist the urge to poop when at work or in public. If you’re part of this group, you need to figure out a way to answer the call of nature when it arrives. The fact is, holding it is bad for you. When you resist the urge to poop, your stool is held in your colon, where moisture is extracted from it, and it hardens, causing, you guessed it — constipation. Hold it too long, and your poop can become impacted, your colon can become distended, and its ability to contract impaired. The moral of the story — when you gotta go, go! Squat to Poop Your body is equipped with three muscles to help you choose when to take a seat on the porcelain throne… and when not to: The puborectalis muscle loops around the rectum like a sling, pulling the rectum forward to create a more acute angle between the rectum and the anal canal. When you stand, the muscle crimps the rectum to keep the poop in. When you sit, the muscle relaxes to a certain degree, but it only relaxes fully in the squat position. The internal sphincter is a smooth muscle controlled by enteric neurons — nothing you have any conscious control over. The external sphincter is a skeletal muscle that you can consciously control, as in when you decide to deliver the package. Whether you sit or squat, you consciously relax the puborectalis and external sphincter muscles, but only the squat position fully relaxes the puborectalis muscle to provide a straighter corridor through which your poop can travel. Lesson here? Squat to poop. And we can definitely help with that. Squatty Potty gives you the choice of simulating the squatting position or going full squat over your conventional toilet. The result: A quicker, fuller elimination of poop with little or no conscious effort on your part. Now we’re well aware that discussing poop in public is taboo, but we do it all the time anyway, and we encourage you to do the same… if you feel so inclined. Please share your poop problem and what you have done successfully, or not so successfully, to address the problem. It might just help someone else. – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post on predictable bowel movements provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Encopresis 101 — Understanding Your Child’s Condition
Is your child regularly soiling his underwear even after being successfully potty-trained? If so, your family is probably suffering from one of the most embarrassing and tenacious conditions to afflict children — encopresis (en-kuh-pree-sis) — involuntary defecation — a condition that, left untreated, can follow your child into adulthood. If you’re a parent of a child with encopresis, you don’t have to imagine the psychological impact of encopresis on you and your child. You can’t send your child to school without dreading the possibility of your child passing stool in class or on the playground. You find excuses for your child not to go to friends’ houses for sleepovers. You dread answering the phone when your child is away from home, expecting it to be a call about your son or daughter having “an accident.” You see the frustration, anguish, and shame on your child’s face, as the harder they try to control their bowel movements the more they fail. To make the situation worse, encopresis is a condition nobody likes to disclose or discuss, so families often become increasingly isolated. If you do venture to discuss your situation, you become the cause — other parents unfamiliar with encopresis will assume that you did something wrong when potty training your child. You’re likely to get plenty of unwelcome parenting advice on how to reward your child when he uses the potty and how to enforce consequences when he soils himself — as if soiling oneself isn’t consequence enough! Even some doctors fail to fully understand the problem or provide parents the valuable understanding, insight, and guidance they need to meet the challenge. We’re here to help. Here we bring you up to speed on encopresis — symptoms, causes, and cures. Symptoms of Encopresis The most obvious symptom of encopresis is the soiling of oneself. Other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, include the following: Leakage of stool or liquid stool on underwear, which can be mistaken for diarrhea Constipation with dry, hard stool Passage of large stool that clogs or almost clogs the toilet Avoidance of bowel movements Long periods of time between bowel movements Lack of appetite Abdominal pain Problems with daytime wetting or bedwetting (enuresis) Repeated bladder infections, typically in girls As we point out in a previous post, “10 Tips for More Predictable Poops,” normal pooping involves going one to three times daily and having semi-soft stools that are light brown in appearance. There’s actually a Bristol Stool Chart presented in that post to help you determine whether the consistency of your child’s stool is in the normal range. If your child isn’t having a normal bowel movement at least once a day, or is experiencing one or more of the symptoms described above, consult your child’s doctor for advice. What Causes Encopresis? The primary cause of encopresis is chronic constipation, and the longer a child remains constipated, the worse the condition becomes. At a certain point, the stool can become so impacted in the bowels that it will not move, and the mass continues to grow, stretching (distending) the bowel muscles to the point at which they can no longer contract effectively to push the mass out. The bowels and rectum, which are already lacking in the nerve department lose any “feeling” they have, so the child doesn’t even sense when she “has to go number two.” Softer stool descending through the bowels flows around the existing mass and leaks out, through no fault of the child, soiling the child and her clothes. Yes, it’s disgusting, and your child knows it, but she can do nothing to control it. But what caused the chronic constipation in the first place? Well, that depends. In some cases, a medical illness may cause or contribute to encopresis; hypothyroidism, Hirschsprung’s disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, and other illnesses have been linked to problems with colon function. In most cases, however, the cause of the chronic constipation is related to: Diet Sedentary lifestyle Medication Emotional/behavioral issues A combination of the four Diet It’s no secret that most kids these days eat more junk food than in generations past. Our hectic lifestyle leads us to eating more convenient, processed foods and less whole foods, and feeding these same processed foods to our children. Like adults, children should be eating more as nature intended — primarily a whole foods diet consisting mostly of vegetables, nuts, and fruits; some whole grains; and protein from quality sources. A focus on whole foods naturally reduces consumption of sugary foods and drinks (and diet products), simple carbohydrates, and processed foods, such as chips, cupcakes, mac & cheese, and fruit rollups. It’s all about establishing a consistently healthy, well-balanced diet. A diet that is overly restrictive can cause nutritional imbalances, but even too much of a good thing, such as cow’s milk and cheese, can contribute to constipation. Sedentary Lifestyle Many children lead active lives, but too many are overly sedentary, spending more time on their smart phones, watching TV, and playing video games than they do riding their bikes, jumping rope, exploring the great outdoors, and engaging in physical activities with friends. Healthy bodies require movement to keep muscles toned and blood flowing and to ensure proper digestion. If kids with encopresis simply matched every hour of sitting with a half hour of physical activity, they would be well on their way to avoiding constipation and achieving optimal health. Medications When you start researching encopresis, you find a lot of information about lack of fiber in the diet, dehydration, and behavioral issues, but you see very little in the literature about medications contributing to the problem. And the few medications cited may not be the biggest culprits. Several articles call attention to over-the-counter cold medications, antacids, anticonvulsants, chemotherapy, and narcotic pain medications as contributing to constipation, but none of the research we encountered pointed out what may be the biggest contributor of all — antibiotics. Parents know better. Many parents of children with encopresis report that their children were put on repeated trials of antibiotics to treat persistent ear infections and other infections prior to developing encopresis. Given the fact that antibiotics kill intestinal bacteria at the same time they kill the targeted infectious agents, and the fact that beneficial intestinal bacteria are an essential ingredient to healthy bowel function, we wonder what role antibiotics might play in triggering encopresis in children. We would like to see such a study conducted. If you know of such a study, please post a comment to share with our readers. Emotional/Behavioral Issues As we point out in a previous post, “Don’t Get Your Colon in a Knot: The Anxiety-Pooping Connection,” healthy bowel movements are often a case of mind over matter. The same is true for children. Thoughts and emotions may impact their ability to poop. Here are a few emotional/behavioral issues that may contribute to constipation: Stress in the family, at school, or among friends A change in bathroom routine, such as when a child starts or returns to school after a break The busy boy or girl syndrome, in which the child is too busy to take time to use the restroom Constipation and encopresis can result in additional emotional and psychological fallout, especially if the child doesn’t understand the condition and is blamed or blames herself for it. This is a highly stigmatizing condition. What Can Be Done to Cure Encopresis? Fortunately, encopresis can be cured in most cases, but it’s not unusual for full recovery to take a year or longer, especially if the bowel has been distended for some time. Bowel tone and function must be restored through changes in diet and lifestyle and through medical intervention. The first step is to see a gastroenterologist who can order x-rays and other tests to rule out or treat any medical conditions that may be at the root of the problem. Both the American College of Gastroenterology and WebMD have online physician directories that can help you get started. Regardless of the cause, the gastroenterologist is likely to recommend/prescribe: Increased fiber consumption Reduction or avoidance of constipating foods, such as cheese, or milk (if your child has an intolerance to milk) Increased water consumption A pre- and probiotic to restore intestinal flora (see our previous post “Restoring Intestinal Flora Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop“) Laxatives (perhaps heavy doses over an extended time) and enemas to keep the bowels clear Counseling to help with any stress that may have contributed to the encopresis or any emotional or behavior issues resulting from it Remember: The earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis. Don’t let embarrassment stand in the way of your getting help for your child. Consult your child’s pediatrician or head directly to the nearest gastroenterologist for help. An Ounce of Prevention Encopresis is one of many illnesses that snowballs into a bigger problem when left untreated, so staying on top of your child’s gastrointestinal health is key to both treatment and prevention. You may be able to avoid ever having to deal with the problem if you invest in the following preventive care: Breastfeed, if possible. Breastfed babies generally have more and looser stools, producing anywhere from 5 to 40 bowel movements per week compared to 5 to 28 among formula-fed babies. Stock up on healthy foods, and clear the shelves of junk food. Encourage an active lifestyle to combat our culture’s sedentary lifestyle. Find a doctor who respects the pros and cons of antibiotics and prescribes them only when necessary. After your child completes a trial of antibiotics, re-inoculate your child with healthy intestinal flora by having her take a quality probiotic along with prebiotics. Consult your child’s doctor for details. Monitor your child’s frequency and consistency of poops. Obviously, you want to give your child some privacy at some point, but teach your child what’s normal — one to three snaky poops daily. Normalize discussion of poop, so your child will not hesitate to let you know when she’s having trouble. Healthy pooping is a key factor in your child’s health; don’t be squeamish. If your family trends on the more humorous side of life, consider reading “Pinching a Loaf and Other Poophemisms” for ideas on how to make the subject matter even more accessible. Transition your family from sitting to poop to squatting to poop. This more natural way of pooping enables everyone in the family to poop without pushing, it’s more fun, and it just may save you a ton of money on toilet paper! To all those parents and their children out there who struggled with or are currently struggling with encopresis, we feel for you. Please post a comment to share your journey with other parents out there who may need support, encouragement, and information. Let us know how you approached this condition — what helped and what didn’t. Help shorten the journey from illness to wellness for others! – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post on Encopresis provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Sit, Squat, or in Between? How Body Position Affects Elimination
If you sit to poop, you don’t know squat about pooping. Squatting makes pooping easier and faster in the following four ways: In the squatting position, gravity does most of the work. The weight of the torso presses against the thighs and naturally compresses the colon. Gentle pressure from the diaphragm supplements the force of gravity. Squatting relaxes the puborectalis muscle, allowing the anorectal angle to straighten and the bowel to empty completely. Squatting lifts the sigmoid colon to unlock the “kink” at the entrance to the rectum. This kink also helps prevent incontinence, by taking some of the pressure off the puborectalis muscle. The colon is equipped with an inlet valve (the ileocecal valve) and an outlet valve (the puborectalis muscle). Squatting simultaneously closes the inlet valve, to keep waste from pushing back up into the small intestine, and opens the outlet valve, to allow wastes to pass freely out of the body. The sitting position defeats the purpose of both valves, making elimination difficult and incomplete, and increasing the risk of waste backing up into the small intestine where it should not be. For more about the potential hazards of sitting to poop, please see “5 Problems With Sitting On Your Toilet.” The Squatty Potty line of toilet stools enables you to simulate the squatting position using a standard sit-down toilet. In a way, it gives you the best of both worlds — the benefits of squatting with the comfort of sitting. But what’s really best: sit, full squat, or somewhere in between? The research is somewhat limited, but the evidence suggests that the optimal elimination posture is a relaxed position as close as possible to a natural squat. Studies Show Squatting to Poop Is Best One source of evidence that supports the benefits of squatting is from a Japanese study, “The Influence of Body Position on Defecation in Humans” published in the journal Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). For the purposes of this study, three positions were tested: Sitting Sitting with the hip flexed at 60 degrees with respect to the rest of the body (sitting with feet raised) Squatting with the hip flexing at 22.5 degrees with respect to the rest of the body For each position, researchers measured abdominal pressures, subtracted rectal pressures and anal sphincter pressures, and examined fluoroscopic images to compare the amount of strain required for elimination (i.e., defecation). Based on the results, the researchers 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.” In other words, the closer you are to a full squat, the easier it will be to poop. In another study, “Comparison of Straining During Defecation in Three Positions: Results and Implications for Human Health” published in the Journal of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Dr. Dov Sikirov had healthy volunteers ranging in age from 17 to 66 years old with normal bowel function use a digital timer to record the time needed for sensation of satisfactory elimination in three different positions: Sitting on a standard-sized toilet seat (41–42 cm high) Sitting on a lower toilet seat (31–32 cm high) Squatting Six consecutive bowel movements were recorded in each position. The average time for satisfactory elimination during squatting was 51 seconds, compared to the average times for the lower and higher toilet seats: 114 and 130 seconds respectively. Participants were also asked to note their subjective impression of the intensity of effort. Based on the results, Dr. Sikirov concluded that “the sensation of satisfactory bowel emptying in sitting defecation posture necessitates excessive expulsive effort compared to the squatting posture.” A third study, “Role of defecation postures on the outcome of chronic anal fissure” involved patients with signs and symptoms of anal fissures — tears in the thin, moist tissue that lines the anus, typically from passing hard or large stools. Patients were evaluated before and after changing their defecation postures — sitting, squatting, or a modified sit/squat position. What these researchers concluded is that the modified posture — sitting with feet elevated — was best, better than both sitting and squatting, for reducing and almost totally eliminating chronic anal fissure. Achieving a Fuller Squat For convenience and comfort, we recommend that you sit down, pull the Squatty Potty out to a comfortable distance, place your feet on the foot rests, and let nature (and your body) take it from there. However, if you are interested in trying a fuller squat, your Squatty Potty stool is very accommodating. Here are a few suggestions for achieving a fuller squat: Depending on your height, consider using a taller Squatty Potty — the 9-inch as opposed to the 7-inch. Some people are so tall, and their toilets so short, they practically can do it without the stool, but unless you’re seven feet tall or taller, you’ll probably need a stool. Pull the Squatty Potty out from the toilet just far enough for your heels to be at the back of the stool without bumping into the toilet. You want to be as far back as comfortably possible, so your poop goes in the toilet and doesn’t “roll around the rim” as they say during this, the season of March Madness in college basketball. Lower yourself to just above or just touching the toilet seat, and scoot back just far enough to make sure any tinkle goes in the toilet. Get comfortable. It may help to rest your forearms on your thighs or knees. Remember: The optimal elimination position is one in which you are relaxed. Of course, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, so if you’ve tried all three positions, please post a comment to let us know what works best for you: sitting, partial squat, or full squat. And if you have any tips to share, they’re always welcome!
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5 Problems With Sitting On Your Toilet
Whether you’re already a believer in the benefits of squatting to eliminate, or you’ve stumbled onto this site as your first introduction to the whole concept, here’s the low-down on why squatting to poop is in your best interest and why using the Squatty Potty® is the most convenient and effective way to improve your bathroom posture. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS KNOW THE BENEFITS OF SQUATTING TO ELIMINATE Medical doctors, naturopaths, and assorted holistic health professionals have pointed out the hazards of the modern toilet for years. There is empirical evidence that elevating your feet during elimination is healthier. The modern day toilet is convenient, but has one major fault; it requires us to sit. While sitting to do our business may be considered “civilized”, studies show the natural squat position improves our ability to eliminate. Better elimination may decrease many modern day ailments including bloating, straining, hemorrhoids and constipation. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM Primary (simple) constipation is a consequence of habitual bowel elimination on common toilet seats. A considerable proportion of the population with normal bowel movement frequency has difficulty emptying their bowels, the principal cause of which is the obstructive nature of the recto-anal angle and its association with the sitting posture normally used in defecation. FIX THE PROBLEM The alignment of the anorectal angle associated with squatting permits smooth bowel elimination. This prevents excessive straining with the potential for resultant damage to the recto-anal region and, possibly, to the colon and other organs. There is no evidence that habitual bowel elimination at a given time each day contributes considerably to the final act of rectal emptying. The natural behavior to empty the bowels in response to a strong defecation reflex alleviates bowel emptying by means of the recto anal inhibitory reflex. THE ONLY NATURAL DEFECATION POSTURE FOR A HUMAN BEING IS SQUATTING 5 PROBLEMS WITH SITTING ON YOUR TOILET 1. CONSTIPATION The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines constipation as having fewer than three bowel movements per seven days. According to the NIH about four million Americans suffer from constipation. Are you one of these people? Do you know someone who is? One of the biggest obstacles to your success may be not realizing you’re constipated in the first place. The bowel is the body’s main elimination organ, yet amongst many Americans today, this central elimination system is compromised, as evidenced by high rates of constipation. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 4-10 million Americans have chronic constipation (defined as having a bowel movement less than three times per week), and as many as 63 million people are suffering at any time from occasional constipation. Squatty Potty® toilet stools create healthy toilet posture to relieve and prevent constipation in the following ways: In the squatting position, gravity does most of the work. The weight of the torso presses against the thighs and naturally compresses the colon. Gentle pressure from the diaphragm supplements the force of gravity. Squatting relaxes the puborectalis muscle, allowing the anorectal angle to straighten and the bowel to empty completely. Squatting lifts the sigmoid colon to unlock the “kink” at the entrance to the rectum. This kink also helps prevent incontinence, by taking some of the pressure off the puborectalis muscle. The colon is equipped with an inlet valve (the ileocecal valve) and an outlet valve (the puborectalis muscle). Squatting simultaneously closes the inlet valve, to keep the small intestine clean, and opens the outlet valve, to allow wastes to pass freely. The sitting position defeats the purpose of both valves, making elimination difficult and incomplete, and soiling the small intestine. 2. HEMORRHOIDS Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids) are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and lower rectum. When we’re standing or sitting the bend, called the anorectal angle, is kinked which puts upward pressure on the rectum and keeps the feces inside. The sitting posture actually keeps us in ‘continence mode’. We thank our lucky stars for this muscle when we don’t want to go but when we need to go, and sit on our toilet to do it – it sure makes elimination difficult and incomplete, creating the need to STRAIN. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, discomfort and bleeding that can signal the presence of hemorrhoids. The veins around your anus tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell. Swollen veins — hemorrhoids — can develop from an increase in pressure in the lower rectum. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HEMORRHOIDS… Hemorrhoids can heal without relapse when the squat posture is adopted for bowel movements. 3. COLON DISEASE Eliminating completely and often helps maintain good colon health. Many studies point to fecal buildup in the colon as a cause of diseases including colon cancer. And when there is buildup in the colon, our bodies can’t absorb all the nutrients from the food we eat, leaving us without the energy we could enjoy if our colons were healthy. 4. URINARY DIFFICULTY/INFECTIONS Urinary flow is usually stronger and easier when women squat to urinate. The bladder is emptied more completely when squatting rather than sitting or “hovering”. Squatting can help reduce episodes of urinary tract infections in both frequency and intensity. Now, that is good news! 5. PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES A 2008 study by Kaiser Permanente published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that one-third of women suffer from one or more pelvic floor disorders. In addition, aging, obesity, and childbirth increase the likelihood of experiencing these issues. Although pelvic floor disorders are more common in women, men also suffer from similar symptoms; the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reports that nearly one in every five men ages 60 and older experience incontinence. A network of ligaments, muscles and connective tissues, the pelvic floor acts as a “hammock” to support the pelvic organs, including the bladder and rectum – and in women, the uterus and vagina. Pelvic floor disorders, also called pelvic floor dysfunction, occur in both men and women when muscles and nerves in this area become damaged or weakened, causing the pelvic organs to prolapse (drop), which can lead to symptoms such as constipation and fecal and urinary incontinence. “Most pelvic floor disorders are tied to the de-evolution of our normal evolutionary biology,” said Dr. Jack Kruse, optimal health coach and Nashville, Tenn.-based neurosurgeon specializing in treating chronic pain, neck pain and back pain. “By correcting our bathroom posture, the Squatty Potty can be a huge help to people suffering from these health problems. Not only is the Squatty Potty aesthetically pleasing, but it also makes a tremendous amount of sense with how we should eliminate.” SQUATTY POTTY IS THE SIMPLE SOLUTIONAll these problems, and more, can be helped with the use of the Squatty Potty®. This innovative, health-giving toilet stool is easy to use and highly effective in positioning the colon for effortless bowel movements. Unlike other contraptions you may have tried to assist in achieving a simulated or full squatting position over your toilet, the Squatty Potty mimics a natural squat posture, is ergonomic, comfortable, sturdy, convenient and affordable. It even slides out of the way under your toilet when not in use.
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Squatty Potty 101: Adjusting to Having a Squatty Potty in Your Home
Since the time you were tall enough to try to flush your toys down the toilet, you’ve been trained to sit to poop. Now you find out that you’ve been doing it all wrong. As if dealing with that realization isn’t enough, you now have to retrain yourself, without the help of your misguided parents, to squat, instead. In place of the stepstool you used as a toddler to reach up to the toilet, you now have this gadget in your home that’s eerily similar but requires that you to squat down to the toilet. Before you start to think that the world has gone topsy-turvy, we have some advice to offer on how to adjust to your new Squatty Potty, and how to explain it to your friends and family. Getting Your Head in the Game You’ve been indoctrinated since a very early age by a cult of sit-poopers to poop a certain way; so don’t expect squatting to feel natural to you. If you’ve ever squatted to poop in the woods, that probably felt pretty cool, but squatting in a bathroom, even if the bathroom is equipped with a squat toilet, can feel awkward. Timing is Everything Accept the fact that you’re going to have some awkward moments, guys especially. When you wake up in the morning aiming at the ceiling, you may want to wait a few minutes and use your typical stand-and-shoot position to empty your water gun before squatting to drop your bombs. Fortunately for most guys, the bomb doors don’t need to be opened until later in the morning. Assuming the Position The good news is that you don’t have to squat entirely with a squatty potty. You can still sit. The Squatty Potty simply raises your legs to simulate squatting and put you in the proper position to deliver the package. Of course, if you want to do a bona fide squat, Squatty Potty can help with that, too. The objective is to achieve a position as close to a natural squat as possible by bringing your thighs up closer to your chest. Why, you ask? Well, that requires a brief lesson in human anatomy. Your body has been cleverly designed to give you the power to decide when to poop and when not to. Many people mistakenly believe that the sphincter muscle is the sole gatekeeper, but this is not so. Two additional obstacles stand between your poop and the pond below. First, near the end of the colon is a section called the sigmoid colon that has a natural kink in it — imagine a garden hose folded over to stop the water flowing through it. The kink must be released to allow the waste to flow freely. A second obstacle is the puborectalis muscle, which maintains a chokehold on the rectum. Only squatting, not sitting, fully relaxes this muscle to clear the pathway to the anus. This elegant design (or happenstance, depending on what you believe) has kept us from pooping while walking around while enabling us to squat and fully eliminate the solid waste from our bodies. Giving Yourself Ample Time to Adapt Becoming accustomed to squatting takes time, as many of our customers have noted. Be prepared to spend some time adapting to the following: Squatting tends to spread your cheeks, so to speak, removing another obstacle that stands in the way of your poop reaching its target; however, spread too far, and it can feel as though somebody jabbed a saber into your perineum. A shorter Squatty Potty usually solves this problem. Pants rolled down around the ankles can make it difficult to widen your stance sufficiently. If that’s the case, you may need to pull them up a little, keeping them below the knees, or you could always go au naturel the first few times. When your thighs are raised they no longer help to support you on the seat, placing additional pressure on your buns, which can cause discomfort for people with bony butts. Sadly, this just takes getting used to and is a minor issue compared to the many benefits of squatting. You may need to work on your aim; some customers have sprayed outside the target area while developing the necessary skill. Coming Clean with House Guests In addition to being a barely noticeable bathroom accessory, the Squatty Potty, when spotted, becomes a great conversation piece. The uninitiated may think, at first, that a nearby toddler is being potty trained. Others may think you use it as a stepstool to reach up to the ceiling or above the cabinets. Maybe they think you’re challenging your ability to aim from greater heights. If anyone asks about it, the most interesting response is to ask them what they think it’s for. (Please, please post their responses below!) If you’d prefer to avoid that discussion, another option is to come clean; tell them what it’s for, why you have it, and how it has impacted (or removed the impaction from) your life. Offer to let them take it for a spin. Heck, everybody poops, no secret there!
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Restoring Intestinal Flora Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop
At Squatty Potty, we are committed to improving the pooping experience one stool at a time, but we realize that assuming the proper stance is only one of many factors that impact the outcome. Another key to consistently good movements is related to the microorganisms that live inside you, specifically those that reside in your intestines — collectively referred to as intestinal flora or gut bacteria. If you have any doubt about the importance of gut bacteria on colon health and, subsequently, on the squatting experience, consider this: One of the most promising treatments for ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s Disease is the Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT), is a procedure in which healthy bacteria from a donor’s fecal matter (or sometimes just the donor’s fecal matter itself) is transferred to the gastrointestinal track of the recipient. This procedure has been most successful in treating people who have an overgrowth of Clostridium Difficile bacteria, (C. diff for short). Want to know more? Visit The Fecal Transplant Foundation online today. As it turns out, the average person lugs around about four pounds of gut bacteria, some harmful, some beneficial, some neutral. When the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria get out of whack, the harmful bacteria proliferate like microscopic rabbits, the colon gets irritated, and you pay the price… in the bathroom, if you’re lucky enough to get there in time. While an overgrowth of harmful bacteria causes diarrhea, a scarcity of bacteria contributes to constipation. Unlike other components of stool, bacterial cells retain moisture. When your gastrointestinal tract has too few bacteria to loosen the feces and keep them moist, stools become dry, hard, and more difficult to pass. Although the treatments for chronic constipation and diarrhea vary depending on the cause, in many cases, the solution is the same — restore the healthy balance of intestinal flora, which calls for a three-pronged approach: Stop killing your intestinal flora. Reintroduce the beneficial bacteria whose populations have been decimated by antibiotics, poor diet, infection, or other causes. Feed the beneficial bacteria to enable them to crowd out the harmful critters. Stop Killing Your Intestinal Flora Assuming you were born vaginally, as opposed to caesarian, and were breast-fed, you inherited a healthy dose of beneficial intestinal flora from your mom. It was the best gift she could ever give you. An infant’s intestinal flora triggers early development of the immune system. A recent study conducted by researchers at NYU’s School of Medicine and Stanford University’s School of Medicine shows that the intestinal flora of infants born vaginally differs significantly from that of infants born caesarian, which may partially explain the increasing incidence of childhood asthma, allergy, and other illnesses related to the immune system. Since birth, your intestinal flora has been under siege. Antibiotics, in particular, can decimate gut bacteria, both harmful and beneficial, and alter the delicate balance of your intestinal flora. Environmental toxins, including pesticides, food additives, and chemicals in everything from the air we breathe and the water we drink to the household cleaners we use and the clothes we wear, can disturb the balance. Bacterial and viral infections of the gut can also disrupt the balance, increasing populations of harmful microbes while decreasing populations of beneficial microbes. The first step to restoring a healthy balance is to stop or at least reduce these attacks on your intestinal flora. Here are four suggestions: Find a doctor who fully appreciates the importance of gut bacteria on your health and is careful in prescribing antibiotics. If you’re not sure where to start, consider searching the Institute for Functional Medicines’ practitioner search tool. Functional Medicine doctors are like detectives — they like to get to the root cause of illness and know a lot about gut health. Eat a healthy diet, primarily plant-based, along with protein sources that haven’t been subjected to large doses of antibiotics (grass-fed beef, for example, and milk that’s free of antibiotics and growth hormone). Reduce or eliminate consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners along with starchy foods (simple carbohydrates), such as wheat products, potatoes, rice, and high-glycemic fruits. Drink plenty of pure water — at least about two liters (a half gallon) a day. Reintroduce Beneficial Bacteria: Probiotics Although nothing can match the diversity of microorganisms you were given at birth and acquired throughout the course of your life, you can put your intestinal flora on the road to recovery through the use of probiotics — beneficial microorganisms (live bacteria and yeasts) found in certain foods, including: Yogurt Kefir Sauerkraut Also available as probiotic supplements in pill, powder, or pearl form Tip: If you’re taking a probiotic supplement, look for a quality product that contains at least five billion colony forming units (CFUs) containing lactobacillus and bifodobacterium. Other bacterial strains can be very helpful, as well, but these are the two biggies. Feed Your Beneficial Bacteria: Prebiotics A sick gut is often the product of an unhealthy diet, not just your diet, but the diet you feed the microorganisms in your gut. With probiotics, you merely plant the seeds. Prebiotics are the fertilizer — the “soil” conditioners — that enable the probiotics and other beneficial microbes already in your gut to flourish. Actually, prebiotics are plant fibers (consisting of soluble fiber and non-digestible sugars) that can travel down through the small intestine to the large intestine undigested and feed the beneficial bacteria that reside within the bowels. In a way, prebiotics are even more important than probiotics. With probiotics, you plant only a few strains of beneficial microbes in your gut. With prebiotics, you nourish the diverse collection of microbes that you have acquired via birth and through your many years of life. Combining pre- and probiotics is optimal, because the two work synergistically to boost populations of beneficial bacteria throughout your gut. If you eat a healthy high-fiber diet, you’re already doing plenty to feed your intestinal flora. If you’re not getting enough fiber in your diet, however, taking a prebiotic supplement may help. Keep in mind that nutrition is about more than just your body; you need to think about those trillions of hungry microbes in your gut, the microbes you literally cannot live without. Keep them healthy and they will reward you a trillion-fold. Tune in next week for more about pre- and probiotics. – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post on intestinal flora provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Addressing Having to Poop When You’re Running or Walking
Have you ever had to poop when you’re out running or walking in an area where you couldn’t get to a restroom, porta-potty, or even a friend’s house? You’re not alone, as many runners and walkers have. Even the most seasoned of runners aren’t immune from soiling themselves during a race or training run — an incredibly gross and humiliating experience! In fact, at the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio, the current world-record holder for the 50 km walk race, Yohann Diniz of France, ‘had to go’ during the 50 km competition, an experience that ultimately contributed to him passing out near the 30 km mark, before finishing 8th overall in the race. Needing to go is also a very common experience as evidenced by a host of articles and online discussions about the topic and by the terms for describing it — runner’s trots and runner’s diarrhea (in extreme instances) and poop walk (where you squeeze your cheeks together and shuffle to “hold it in”). According to one review in The International SportMed Journal, various studies have shown that 30 to 83 percent of runners reported experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) distress, which can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and even acid reflux while running. Another study found 93 percent of long-distance triathletes competing in extreme conditions experienced at least one symptom of GI distress. If we all pooped like unicorns, there wouldn’t be a problem. Nobody could possibly be offended by sweet tasting, rainbow-colored poop. Unfortunately, human poop isn’t as enticing. Exploring the causes Numerous factors are thought to contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) distress during periods of intense and extended physical activity, including the following: The physical jostling of internal organs and undigested food and liquids Decreased blood flow to the intestines as the body diverts blood from the intestines to the muscles being used to run or walk, leading to poor digestion and absorption Increased motility (muscle contraction in the GI tract) as exercise stimulates all muscles in your body Increased production of stress hormones and cytokines (inflammatory proteins), particularly prior to a race Increased mucosal permeability, leading to the contents of the GI tract leaking out into the rest of the body All of these factors contribute to looser stools and increased motility, which can result in an incontrollable urge to poop. And if you’re not at a convenient location to drop your runners shorts, and you don’t have some toilet paper to clean up afterwards, the added stress can make the problem even worse. Considering possible solutions Neither pooping your pants nor dropping your drawers outdoors is a pleasant experience, so how do you deal with the issue? Some runners recommend taking an antidiarrheal, such as Imodium, to plug themselves up prior to a run or race, an approach we don’t recommend. Running dehydrates you, which can contribute to constipation. Taking something like an antidiarrheal to harden your stools will exacerbate the problem. Try the solutions listed below instead, and then consult your doctor if you continue to have an overwhelming urge to poop that’s impairing your ability to perform at your best: Coordinate your poops and runs. Try to get on a regular schedule of eating, sleeping, running, and pooping. Regulating your diet and routines helps your body maintain a predictable pattern, and you’ll be less likely to get caught with your pants down. Time your meals. Stop eating three hours before you run or walk to give your body time to digest your food and possibly eliminate some waste. If you’re like most people, you tend to poop shortly after eating as your body tries to make room for more food. Be aware when taking NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) tend to increase mucosal permeability, contributing to GI distress. Watch your diet. Fat, fiber, chocolate, and sweets are all associated with GI distress while running. Avoid fatty, high-calorie meals at least three hours before a workout or race. Pack toilet paper. Stuff some toilet paper in a pocket or elsewhere. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Plan your route. You can’t do this during a race, but when you’re mapping you training or recreational route, trace a path that includes possible poop stops — restaurants, gas stations, the local library, friends’ houses, wooded lots, and so on, where you can poop in private. Alternatively, consider taking a warm-up jog near your home, so you can do your business before setting out on a longer run. Eliminate more completely prior to a run. Using a Squatty Potty stool, you can eliminate waste more completely prior to a run, thus reducing the amount of unpassed stool in your poop chute. And about that rainbow-colored unicorn poop mentioned at the outset of today’s post…Squatty Potty is now a proud sponsor of The Color Run, “the Happiest 5K on the Planet” — a unique paint race that celebrates health, happiness, and individuality. It’s the largest running series in the world, experienced by over six million runners in more than 35 countries around the globe. While you may not be able to poop rainbows, you will earn the Unicorn Medal upon completion of eight select Color Run races across the United States. For more info, visit: TheColorRun.com and look for the Squatty Potty logo on select 2017 Color Run race listings. – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post, which touches on issues related to gastrointestinal distress while engaged in running and/or walking activities, provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Pinching a Loaf and Other Poophemisms
In polite company, we often use euphemisms (nice ways of saying something) when discussing sensitive subjects, such as death and sex. Loved ones don’t die; they “pass away.” The neighbors may be having sex with the windows open, but we prefer to say they’re “doing it.” Along those lines, one of the most uncomfortable subjects to discuss is the elimination of solid waste from the human body — what we at Squatty Potty politely refer to as “pooping.” Because pooping is so common, and poop is so gross, it has become the butt of many jokes and puns and has inspired perhaps the largest collection of euphemisms related to any sensitive subject. You can find plenty of poop euphemism lists online. There’s even a book devoted to such euphemisms cleverly titled Poophemisms: Over 1737 Fun Ways To Talk About Taking a Poop. In the spirit of maintaining an accurate archive, here are 60 of our favorites: Baking a loaf Baking brownies Building a log cabin Busting a grumpy Catching up on some reading Communing with nature Crowning Decorating the Oval Office Delivering a load Dirty bombing Dropping a biscuit in the basket Dropping a bomb/brick Dropping a duke Dropping anchor Dropping the kids off at the pool (note: there are both public and private pools) Evacuating the building Feeding the fish Going number two Greeting Mr. Hankey Growing a monkey tail Gotta go Having the squirts Heaving a Havana Killing the cobra Launching the torpedoes Laying cable Laying down some wolf bait Laying pipe Leaving a floater Letting loose Letting the dogs/hounds out Logging out Making a deposit at the porcelain bank Making fudge Making room for dessert Making sausage Making stinky Needing some alone time Opening the gates Paying off a loan Pinching a loaf Planting corn Prairie dogging Releasing the beast Releasing the hounds Releasing the Kraken Ripping a deuce Rolling a nut log Sawing logs Seeing a man about a horse Shooting the Hershey squirts Sinking the Bismarck Squeezing one out Stocking the pond Taking a load off your mind Taking the Browns to the Super Bowl Taking a dump Taking a seat on the porcelain throne Taking it to the hoop (Our personal favorite) Mind if I try your Squatty Potty?
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