It is an age-old question: what’s the optimal position for human beings to be in when they defecate? Anecdotal evidence flies fast and free in many such debates, as do appeals to the animal kingdom and its favored techniques.

But settled science is squarely on the side of the squatting camp, which is one of the reasons products such as this one have become unadulterated sensations on the commercial Web.

Many of the data we marshal in support of the squat is based on this study, which found that straightening the bend between the rectum and the anus, called the anorectal angle, can greatly reduce straining and improve comfort and regularity:

[T]he participants who pooped in a squatting position needed less time and less straining to achieve a “sensation of satisfactory bowel emptying” compared to their toilet-sitting counterparts.

The benefits go beyond mere comfort and emptiness; when we strain, we increase the chances of developing hemorrhoids and even anal fissures which can impede our active lives. Hemorrhoids develop from engorging the veins of the internal hemorrhoids with blood, commonly due to increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, or the pressure inside the abdomen. As it is commonly known, hemorrhoids can be a real pain in the butt to treat!

Another quick tip to help you poop more effectively is to make sure your stools are the correct consistency, meaning, not too loose and not too hard. This can be best achieved with eating a healthy diet complete with lots of fiber.

Last, regardless of the postion you choose to “poop”, always remember to avoid sitting on the commode for long periods of time reading your favorite magazine or surfing the internet, as this will lead to hemorrhoidal swelling and engorgement.

Want to learn more about how to avoid butt pain and improve defecation to treat the problems you have seen from straining? Call the best hemorrhoid doctor in los angeles at the Proctology Institute today.