I'm often asked what my opinion about a diet or disease is.

Who cares what my or anyone else's opinion is?

Always you care about is what the science says.

What does the best available balance of evidence

published in the peer-reviewed medical literature

have to say right now?

Welcome to the Nutrition Facts Podcast.

I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Today, we examine the best way to have the most regular and otherwise

agreeable bowel movements.

And we're going to start with the best pooping position.

While squatting continues to be the traditional position in populations of Asia and Africa,

Westerners have become accustomed to sitting on toilet seats.

And when we do that, when we sit upright,

our poop is forced to make nearly 90 degree turns,

so-called rectoanel angle.

And now that's a good thing in terms of keeping us from pooping our pants every time we sit down,

when it comes to doing our business,

the sitting toilet posture defeats the purpose of our body's brilliant design,

like trying to drive a car without releasing the parking brake.

Yet many physicians are hesitant to discuss such an unmanshable bodily function

or may just be ignorant.

...