An article about modern day stool habits
How our Victorian toilet habits are destroying our health
What happens if you don’t squat to poop
Appendicitis is a disease of modern times. The medical term “appendicitis” was introduced in the medical sphere in 1886 by Dr. Reginald Fitz, a Harvard professor. You might assume that this is a common disease that has been around since shortly after God first formed man from the dust of the earth.
Truth is that “appendicitis” has only been known to the medical community for a very short time. Even more surprising to you may be the fact that this medical malady is limited mainly to the western world!
What is the cause of appendicitis? Why is this condition appearing in modern times? And an even more curious question: why is it appearing mainly in the western cultures? If you ask any medical doctor or gastroenterologist these questions they will say that nobody knows the true etiology of this medical anomaly and, after all, you do not need an appendix anyhow!
As taught in medical schools, the appendix is a “poorly designed and unnecessary appendage of the colon”. The medically disdained appendix is attached to a part of the colon called the cecum, which is located at the beginning of the large intestine. On occasion, fecal matter gets pushed into and lodged in the appendix. This fecal matter eventually hardens, causing the appendix to become toxic and die. Interestingly enough, this only happens to users of the modern commode!
This unhappy event for the appendix happens because the cecum cannot be properly evacuated in what I call the “Victorian sitting position for elimination”. The cecum is however, cleverly and effectively emptied when it is efficiently squeezed empty by the right thigh muscles while in the squatting position for elimination!
The Victorian “push”
While attempting elimination in the prim and proper “Victorian” fashion, the person holds their breath and pushes down on the abdomen with the diaphragm thereby forcing fecal matter into the appendix. In a squat position for elimination, you don’t hold your breath or push downwards because the squat posture effortlessly accomplishes the necessary pressure for elimination. The colon was divinely designed to be emptied in a squat position, not sitting!
An interesting fact is that a number of other pelvic diseases found their beginnings toward the end of the nineteenth century – including diverticulosis, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, prostate problems and uterine disorders. This means that this period of time was either the age of discovery and documentation of age-old problems, or this is the actual beginning of these self-inflicted maladies.
As these disorders and medical abnormalities, came to prominence, the medical profession responded decisively by inventing and licensing intricate surgeries to remove the diseased appendices, prostates and other organs. Going with the accepted medical standards for treatment of diseases, the medical profession ended up once again treating the only the symptoms of disease and overlooking the causation and true beginnings of these diseases. This of course, medically over-ruled any true means of prevention.
In the 1970s, Dr. Denis Burkitt, a British surgeon who had practiced medicine in Uganda for twenty years, reported the general absence of these intestinal diseases along with a lack of prostatitis and uterine problems among his African patients. These same diseases, however, afflicted American born African descendants in large numbers while still remaining absent in the African lands of their direct ancestors.
Like in Burkitt’s African notations, epidemiological studies also show a similar exemption from these diseases and disorders in rural Asian areas. However, as you travel west into Europe, and to America, studies show the same predisposition in the Asians (as in the case of the ethnic Africans), for the development of these problems among eastern descendants.
In Africa, Dr. Burkitt noted two very important features of the African’s culture that precluded them from colon and pelvic ailments. Primarily, the African diet contains high levels of fiber for proper digestion. Secondly, the Africans use a natural squatting position for bowel movements.
Western medicine easily conformed to the first aspect of Burkitt’s notes for colon health with dietary fiber while overtly ignoring second aspect of posture during elimination. Diet could be easily and openly discussed and advocated, but toilet posturing is a fatally ignored taboo. Western inhabitants deem it extremely unacceptable to talk about, let alone think about such an abhorred human function as elimination!
Therefore, the prevailing hypothesis to explain these diseases has been an out-of-hand proclamation of the deficiency of dietary fiber in our western diets. In stark contrast to this, prostatitis and prostate cancer are now proclaimed to be caused by consuming over-processed and degraded dietary fibers. (Keep in mind that prostate problems are largely a western malady!)
You will be amazed to find out the results of studies made in light of the “dietary fiber theory” as seen below.
High fiber for good pooping
- (Associated Press, London – October 13, 2000) – Evidence is mounting that fiber might not prevent colon cancer after all, with a new study suggesting that one type of supplement might even be bad for the colon. The theory that a high-fiber diet wards off the second leading cancer killer has been around since the 1970s, but the evidence was never strong. The concept began to crumble last year when the first of three major U.S. studies found it had no effect.
- In the latest study, published this week in The Lancet medical journal, European researchers found that precancerous growths, or polyps, were slightly more likely to recur in those taking a certain fiber supplement.
- (Journal of Clinical Oncology – August 30, 2002) – A low-fat, high-fiber diet heavy in fruits and vegetables has no impact on PSA levels in men over a four-year period, and does not affect the incidence of prostate cancer, according to a study by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute, and seven other centers.
It may appear that the first factor offered by Dr. Burkitt has the disappointing conclusion that fiber is not necessary in the prevention of the above-mentioned maladies. What about the secondary factor? Squatting to eliminate? A little clever research into the use of the modern commode would illuminate an interesting alternative to the treatment of intestinal, uterine, and prostate diseases. A little “posturing for elimination” is a primary solution to the dilemma while diet and fiber take a secondary position in disease prevention.
The instinctive squat
Historically and even biblically, the human race has eliminated from a squatting position until the late 1800’s. Even toddlers instinctively squat for elimination until society forces him to “act human” and to “sit on a potty”. Our western preclusion to sit upon the “porcelain throne” runs concurrent with the same time and demographics as the very diseases we are discussing!
The “porcelain throne” as it were, is based in a Victorian vogue that found its way into the western cultures. To posture a squat during elimination has been labeled “uncivilized”, “backwoods” and “undignified” in the modern mind. Unfortunately the “taboo” over discussions about bodily functions and elimination has and will only serve to perpetuate this ingrained and contrived Victorian stool-sitting stance.
With the coming of the Victorian commode posture, and as this fad continued to spread from Europe to America, doctors reported an upsurge in colon, bladder, and reproductive diseases. Our western medical system, however, is an economy driven market that spends money where research will generate a profit. In the case advocating elimination posture, there is no real money to dedicate to such a mundane and low cost treatment. Billions of dollars, however, are gleefully spent and gained on surgical procedures and medicines that offer symptomatic relief and treatment at best.
What are the implications of the Victorian posture for elimination?
One problem comes from excessive pressure on the pelvic floor while sitting and straining to eliminate. Over time, poor elimination posture causes the pelvic floor to “descend” while stretching and injuring the nerves that supply the bladder, the prostate and the uterus. Other support tissues and organ tissues are also damaged and then continually re-injured under the repeated stress of bad elimination posture. The end result is dysfunctional, damaged, and disease-prone organs.
Another problem with bad elimination posture is damage caused by fecal stagnation from incomplete evacuations. A burdened and toxic ridden colon is prone to cancer, diverticulosis, appendicitis, colitis and the latest, irritable bowel syndrome. This stagnation also causes a further toxic burden on the liver, kidneys, and skin along with a plethora of other disorders to be treated by western medicine with expensive medical practices and drugs.
Squatting to eliminate is the solution:
The solution is simple: pay attention to how God designed our bodies! Learn as much about your body as you can. Take responsibility for your own health. And always question the flow of human fads and tendencies. All research begins with questions. Your own health is precious enough to warrant a little study and questioning. The best time to seek your health is while you still have it! As far as elimination habits, try something new, who cares? Who’s going to know about it? You will care as you reap the benefits of posturing for elimination. Others will know as you share the results of better health!
To learn more about the benefits of squatting, please visit http://NaturesPlatform.com/health_benefits.html
Adapted in part from article by Jonathan Isbit
Authored by cancer nutritionist Craig Stellpflug NDC, CNC, Dayspring Cancer Clinic Scottsdale, AZ
Copyright 2012 Craig Stellpflug© Permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute this article but only in its entirety