Don't Laugh: Here's Why the Squatty Potty Makes the Perfect Holiday Gift
Treat yourself and your bowels
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Sometimes a good poop is hard to come by. Maybe you find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time languishing on the toilet, waiting for the deed to be done. Or maybe, during moments of intense gastrointestinal distress, you feel like your body is playing a game with you, a game called, “Guess how much we can make going to the bathroom feel like you’re dying?” These are all unfortunate scenarios, because pooping, in my opinion, should be a smoother process. It shouldn’t be full of sound and fury, resulting in nothing.
For people looking for literal relief from their bowel conundrums, the Squatty Potty might be a helpful solution. Defecation posture modification devices (DPMDs) such as the Squatty Potty are footstools that supposedly ease a person’s bowel movements by having their legs be lifted into a squatting position when they poop.
Does the Squatty Potty Actually Help You Poop?
In a word: yes. The Squatty Potty and other DPMDs straighten your pelvic floor into a position that allows for easier passage of stool and alleviates constipation, says Darren M. Brenner, MD, a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
When you’re pooping, your position on the toilet matters. A good one to take is one where your knees are elevated higher than your hips and you’re leaning forward with your spine straightened and your elbows on your knees, Brenner says.
The position bears similar characteristics to squatting, which research has shown causes people less strain when they poop. A 2003 study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences revealed that test subjects’ defecation time decreased when they were squatting compared to when they were sitting.
Where to Buy the Squatty Potty
Shop at Amazon, Home Depot, Squatty Potty, Target, and Walmart.
When it comes to the actual effects of the Squatty Potty itself, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology showed that participants experienced less strain and a shorter defecation time and felt that their bowels were more emptied when using a Squatty Potty. Those who suffered from constipation, in particular, reported that their straining outcomes were improved.
The study’s results suggested that by replicating the characteristics of squatting, DPMDs like the Squatty Potty are able to provide people with similar benefits to their bowel movements and that it may potentially be considered as a low-cost option for those looking to mitigate their constipation.
For people with mobility issues or those who might have difficulty squatting on their own, the Squatty Potty can be particularly useful. You’re still sitting on the toilet while the Squatty Potty, which is positioned around the toilet, helps you elevate your knees and puts you in a better position to pass stool, Brenner says.
The Squatty Potty is also not the only thing that can help with your bowel movements. Other step stools would also work fine as long as your legs can be spread at shoulder length, Brenner says.
So if you treasure your bowels, like I do, why not consider buying yourself a Squatty Potty or a similar stool during the holiday season? Candles or throw pillows are all good gifts for relaxation, but truly, is there anything as relaxing as not having to grimace while you defecate? I think not.
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