Irrfan was Right: We’re Pooping the Wrong Way

This is no bullcrap. Irrfan was right, you must squat and not sit when you poop.

(Photo: Screen grab from Piku)

Here’s the stinker, shit binds humans, whether we like it or not.

Constipation is bothersome and common and Indians love to talk about it. And after watching Piku, I agree with Rana Chaudhary aka Irrfan Khan’s character in the movie completely – squatting does yield a happier and more successful result than sitting.

If you’re loath to believe your fellow Indian, however, here’s a firang’s take on it. Charming Bowels by Giulia Enders tells us what we have already known for decades - that we have been pooping all wrong. We must squat, not sit, on the commode. Sorry, chubby uncles and aunties. You’re in for a helluva balancing act.

(Charming Bowels by Giulia Enders) 

This is because the closure mechanism of the gut is not designed to ‘open the hatch completely’ when we’re sitting down or standing up: it’s like a kinked hose. Squatting is far more natural and puts less pressure on our bottoms. 1.2 billion people around the world who squat have almost no incidence of diverticulosis and fewer problems with piles.
– Giulia Enders to The Guardian

For people who cannot squat on the pot, here’s an alternative: you can squat on the floor and when the pressure has built up to the right point, quickly rush to the washroom. Works like a charm (talking from personal experience).

Enders’ book has comfortably placed itself atop the German paperback charts for the last two months. Her book is not just about squatting but also about the digestive system.