The Advantages of a Squat Toilet

Frequent travelers and those who are stationed overseas are very familiar with the concept of a squat toilet. Others, though, may find this to be a very unusual bathroom fixture.

Rather than sitting up off the floor like a standard flush toilet, the squatting toilet is basically just a hole in the ground into which you urinate and defecate. The only exception that you will find is a "pedestal" squat toilet. This style is approximately the same height as toilets found in America.

Squat toilets are most frequently found in Asia and Europe and go by a variety of names, such as Iranian, Turkish, Eastern or Natural-Position toilets. Yet, they function in much the same way as a traditional one.

The main difference between a squat toilet and a flush one, other than the position of the fixture, is the lack of toilet paper. To compensate for this, a bowl or bucket of water is placed next to the unit and you wash yourself rather than wipe. This can be very difficult to get used to when you come from a country with flush toilets, but adjustments have to be made in certain situations.

The reason the squatting toilet is so popular is that many believe it is cleaner and safer than its seated counterpart. Some studies have shown that sitting on a toilet may lead to hemorrhoids.

In addition, it is believed that straining while seated during a bowel movement can lead to illnesses such as constipation, IBS, and colon cancer, among others. The reasoning for this is that the straining causes a lot of pressure on internal organs which leads to nerve damage in these organs. The damaged organs are then more susceptible to disease.

Other concerns focus on the amount of fecal matter left during a bowel movement produced on a seated toilet. Some experts believe that fecal matter left in the body can stagnate and lead to disease also.

Yet, concerns about disease also arise from the use of a squat toilet. People often do not use the fixture properly, or don't care enough to hit the hole. This can lead to a dirty floor surrounding the toilet. When the next person goes to use it, their skirt or pants may fall and land in this mess, leading to sickness. So many people choose to completely remove their lower clothing before using the fixture to eliminate this problem.

The choice of whether to install a squat toilet is personal, and only you can decide if it will work for you. For more information about these unfamiliar eco toilets, see the author's website, shown in the paragraph below.