Poop Faster With This Little-Known Sitting Position

Even though most people don't like to talk about it, constipation is fairly common. So common, in fact, that according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 4 million Americans live with frequent constipation and 2.5 million people in the U.S. end up having to visit their doctor every year because of it.

While there are many reasons for constipation — like not getting enough fiber, not staying hydrated enough, or being more sedentary — when you're blocked up and desperately need to poop, you don't care about the reasons, you just want it out of your body as soon as possible. Although the market is full of options and a quick Google search will bring you to lists of home remedies to help you poop faster, sometimes all it takes is sitting in a position with one leg crossed over the other, allowing the rectum to relax and getting things moving and on their way. Because this sounds a bit too good to be true, Health Digest exclusively talked to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Chief Medical Advisor for Fortune Recommends Health, about sitting in this way on the toilet and whether it results in pooping faster. The short answer: It most certainly does.

According to Dr. Dasgupta, when we sit with one leg crossed over the other, the position mimics squatting — although you're not technically squatting at all — in that it relaxes the muscles and prepares the rectum to have a bowel movement. "This [position] helps straighten the rectum and align the canal, which makes it easier for stool to pass," says Dr. Dasgupta. "The position also uses your abdominal muscles better, creating extra pressure to move stool along. Plus, it can make you feel more comfortable and relaxed, which can help reduce any stress that might make it harder to go."

If you look at a diagram of the rectum, you'll see that it is slightly S-shaped. It's this shape that's necessary for proper continence, also known as making sure your poop doesn't just fall out all over the place — which is a great thing for humanity. However, when you need to get things moving along, that S-shape can be problematic, that's why straightening the rectum through the aforementioned position, squatting on the toilet (which is done in some cultures), or getting a Squatty Potty that brings your legs up and also straightens the rectum are all great options.

It's no secret that stress can take its toll on your digestion and interrupt regular bowel movements. Research has proven time and again that stress in both adults and children can lead to constipation. Stress not only tenses the muscles in the body, including those in and around your abdomen, but the stress hormone cortisol can mess with your body, throwing your microbiome and digestion for a loop due to the gut-brain axis (per PsychCentral). In other words, if your brain is concerned about something, it's going to send signals to your digestive tract which can possibly create mayhem like constipation. Then constipation in itself can cause more stress because you're walking around and really need to poop, but can't!

Because of this, Dr. Dasgupta suggests "stay calm and avoid rushing." He also advises drinking something warm beforehand to help the process. "Experiment with different positions to find what works best for you, and if you still have trouble, consider talking to your doctor," says Dr. Dasgupta. While not being able to poop can be extremely uncomfortable and definitely put a damper on one's day, remember this: It eventually has to come out. So be patient, grab a magazine, get into position, and let it happen.