We know it’s a bit personal — but if you're sitting on the toilet right now, reading this, it’s time to rethink your bathroom strategy. Surprisingly, grunting your way through a bowel movement may be doing you more harm than good. Medical experts are now warning that the all-too-common habit of straining with sounds may actually make it harder for you to "go."But if grunting doesn’t work, what does? Recent research is shining a light on an “interesting” — and more effective — position that could finally make bathroom time easier and healthier. Here’s everything you need to know.While it might feel natural to push and grunt when you're struggling, studies show it’s not actually helping. In fact, releasing air and sound while straining reduces internal pressure, which is crucial for moving stool along.When you grunt, you’re essentially letting out the very force that should be helping you pass stool. It's like trying to blow up a balloon with a leaky hole — the energy escapes instead of building pressure where it's needed most. This subtle loss of abdominal pressure means the effort you're making is, ironically, working against you.A UK report even found that about a third of people are habitual loo-grunters. While it’s not going to cause immediate damage, it certainly won’t make things any easier.How Your Pooping Position Changes Everything?The conversation around healthy pooping habits took off globally with the introduction of devices like the Squatty Potty — a footstool designed to help you squat rather than sit during bowel movements. The buzz wasn’t just marketing hype; there’s real science behind it.Humans, after all, were not designed to defecate while sitting. Evolutionary biology suggests that squatting is the body's natural position for elimination. When we sit, the puborectalis muscle — which wraps around the rectum like a sling — stays partially tense, creating a bend (like a kink in a garden hose) between the rectum and anus to prevent unwanted accidents. Squatting relaxes this muscle fully, straightening out the digestive tract and allowing for smoother, more complete bowel movements.In other words, sitting keeps your "hose" bent; squatting straightens it out and lets everything flow.A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences by researcher Dov Sikirov measured the time and effort needed for bowel movements in different positions. The findings were clear:Subjects who squatted completed their business in about one-third the time compared to those who sat.Squatters reported a much easier, more satisfying experience with significantly less effort.X-rays also show that the rectum straightens more when squatting, and pressure inside the abdomen is lower — meaning you're straining less and emptying more fully.The benefits aren’t just about convenience either. Straining during bowel movements is a known contributor to constipation, hemorrhoids, and even pelvic floor issues. Cultures where squatting toilets are the norm, such as in parts of Asia and Africa, report lower rates of these problems, although diet may also play a role.What Is Squatty Potty?The Squatty Potty and similar products are simple footstools designed to elevate your knees above your hips while you're seated. This change mimics a squat position, relaxing the puborectalis muscle and straightening out the colon.While you could technically squat without buying anything — simply by bending deeply at the knees and hips — the stool makes the position much easier to achieve, especially for older adults or those with mobility issues.And yes, evidence shows it works. People using posture-changing devices report less straining, faster bathroom visits, and a greater sense of “full evacuation.” If you’ve ever left the toilet feeling like you weren’t quite done, a squat stool might be your solution.Sit vs. Squat: Why the Right Position Matters for Your HealthWestern toilets prioritize comfort and decorum over functional anatomy. But if you find yourself frequently constipated, straining, or dealing with hemorrhoids, your toilet posture might be part of the problem.Squatting isn't just about easier elimination — it’s about long-term digestive health. By relieving pressure during bowel movements, you can potentially lower your risk for common and painful conditions like:ConstipationHemorrhoidsAnal fissuresPelvic floor dysfunctionWhen waste moves out of the body more easily, it also means less trapped stool, less bloating, and potentially better gut health overall.4 Reasons You Should Squat, Not GruntIf you're still not convinced, here’s why adopting a squatting posture could change your bathroom experience for good:Reduces Straining: Prevents excessive pushing and lowers the risk of hemorrhoids.Unkinks Your Colon: Straightens the rectal canal for a smoother passage.Increases Full Evacuation: Helps you feel more empty after using the bathroom.Relaxes Your Body Naturally: Aligns with the body's natural anatomy for easier elimination.Next time nature calls, skip the grunt-fest and rethink your position. Whether you invest in a Squatty Potty or simply use a low footstool to prop up your legs, small changes can lead to big relief.Modern toilets may have revolutionized hygiene, but when it comes to the natural way to poop, a little squatting can go a long way toward improving your gut health and making every bathroom trip a whole lot easier.