Hi Everyone,
Dr. Storage here.
I’m going to make a guess: There’s a decent chance you’re reading this email on the toilet.
I get it. The bathroom feels like the last sanctuary of peace.
It’s where we catch up on texts, scroll through social media, or finally read that article we’ve had open for three days.
Patients ask me all the time: "Dr. Storage, how long should it take to poop?"
When I tell them "under five minutes," they look at me in disbelief.
But if you’re sitting there for 20 minutes scrolling…
You’re actively training your body to forget how to go to the bathroom.
Today, I’ll talk about why your phone can be the enemy of a healthy gut…
And why the "5-Minute Rule" might be one of the best things you do for your pelvic floor.
Why You Should Read This Now
Sitting too long can do more than just cause your feet to go numb. It can confuse your brain’s signaling to your gut.
Sitting on the toilet for too long can lead to "rectal hyposensitivity" (a fancy way of saying your rectum stops listening to cues).
The Physics of Poop: Your posture on the toilet is important. The wrong position can physically block the exit, but there are ways to fix it.
Today’s Opponent:
Texting on the Toilet
We view the toilet as a chair. But biologically, it’s a squatting station.
When you sit on a toilet for 20 minutes getting lost in a scroll hole, gravity puts immense pressure on the veins in your rectum (hello, hemorrhoids)!
But worse, you often ignore the body’s natural signal that it’s done because your brain is distracted by a screen.
Your gut and brain are constantly communicating. Here’s the breakdown of what goes wrong when you bring your phone in with you.
The Signal Fade (Rectal Hyposensitivity)
When you feel the urge to go, that’s your rectum stretching and sending a “time to go” signal to your brain.
If you sit there ignoring that signal, or if you sit there after you’ve gone because you’re watching a video, your rectum remains stretched.
And over time, that signal will get weaker and weaker.
Eventually, you develop constipation not because you can't poop, but because your brain stopped receiving the notification.
The Kink in the Hose
We’re not designed to poop sitting at a 90-degree angle.
There’s a muscle called the puborectalis that wraps around your rectum like a sling.
When you sit normally, this muscle chokes the rectum to keep you continent (so you don't poop your pants).
Sitting (90°): The muscle is tight. You have to strain to push past it.
Squatting (35°): The muscle relaxes. The "kink" straightens out.
This is why I always recommend a Squatty Potty or a small stool. You want your knees higher than your hips.
This straightens the road for a faster, more complete exit.
The Timing
The best time to go is usually right after a meal. This is your gastrocolic reflex kicking in.
Your stomach tells your colon, "Incoming food, make some room."
If you suppress this natural rhythm to scroll on your phone, you miss the wave.
"Your body is designed to eliminate waste efficiently. When you scroll, you distract your brain from the body's cues. A healthy bowel movement is an event, not a hangout session. Do your business and get out."
“From a physiological standpoint, prolonged sitting on the toilet creates a venous tourniquet effect, leading to hemorrhoidal engorgement. People often ask me about hemorrhoid surgery, but the best treatment is often in what we eat and how we poop."
4 Tips For Better Poops From a GI Doctor
👉 The "No Phone" Zone: Leave your phone in the kitchen. If you need entertainment, read the back of the shampoo bottle like we did in the 90s.
👉 The 5-Minute Timer: If it hasn’t happened in 5 minutes, get up and leave. Do not strain. Try again later when the urge returns.
👉 Elevate Your Knees: Use a stool to get into that squat position.
👉 The End Goal: You should feel completely empty. No pressure, no "still something left" feeling.
Now, go read a shampoo bottle like it’s 1999! 😅
What’s On Your Mind?
Respond to this email and let us know!
As gastroenterologists, we definitely have a lot to talk about when it comes to your gut health and well-being. But we can’t always get to everything (you know… like coffee enemas)! So reply directly to this email or DM us on TikTok below and maybe YOUR topic will be featured soon!
