The tabo and the squat toilet setup common in many Filipino homes and public bathrooms carry two separate gut-relevant habits: the water-based cleaning itself, and the squatting posture that traditionally goes with it.
What squatting posture does mechanically
Squatting position
Straightens the anorectal angle more fully
Reduces straining needed for a bowel movement
Associated with faster, more complete evacuation in research comparing positions
Seated (Western-style)
Anorectal angle remains more acute
Often requires more straining
Associated with longer time and more frequent incomplete evacuation
Research comparing squatting and seated positions for bowel movements consistently finds that squatting straightens the anorectal angle more effectively, requiring less straining and often resulting in more complete evacuation.[1] This is part of why squat-style bathroom setups, still common in the Philippines despite the spread of Western-style toilets, may carry a genuine, if underappreciated, digestive advantage.
Why the water-based cleaning habit matters too
Using water via a tabo rather than relying solely on toilet paper is more thorough at removing residue, which some research links to lower rates of certain irritations and infections in areas prone to them.[2] This isn't directly a gut bacteria issue, but hygiene practices around bathroom use do connect to overall gut and reproductive health outcomes broadly.
The hydration habit that often gets overlooked in this context
Adequate hydration affects stool consistency more than toilet position does on its own. A well-hydrated person using a seated toilet may have an easier time than a dehydrated person squatting, since water intake determines stool softness in a way posture alone can't fully compensate for.[2] Building that intake consistently, rather than trying to catch up all at once, is covered in how to build a hydration habit you keep. The two factors work together rather than one substituting for the other.
What to do with this
If you have access to a squat-style setup and find it more comfortable, the research supports that preference as more than just habit. If you use a seated toilet, a small footstool that raises your knees closer to a squatting angle achieves a similar effect without changing your bathroom setup. Either way, hydration is doing at least as much work as posture, and it's the more controllable factor day to day. For the basics on getting enough fluid in daily, hydration and your gut is a good place to start, and water and your gut: the simple habit most people skip covers why this habit gets overlooked so often.
- Sikirov, Comparison of straining during defecation in three positions, PMC (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Hydration status and stool consistency, PMC (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Fluid intake and gastrointestinal function, PMC (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
