Squirt, Squat, and Smile: The Wellness Win You're Missing

Plus, last chance for Club Members to enter the April raffle

I’m Brandon Wilson. I am constantly working toward improving my mind, body, and spirit using various ancient techniques and cutting-edge biohacking tools and devices. I want to be healthy, but not at the expense of being happy. This simple idea is what it means to be wellthy.

For the reasonable price of $6 per month/$60 per year, you will receive valuable content, including access to the entire archive of over 230 newsletters, members-only content, audio voiceovers (with extra content and always read by me), participation in the brain training raffle to win monthly biohacking gift bags, and access to the Be Wellthy Club private Facebook group.

First time reading? Let’s get you in the club.

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The countdown continues! We are 31 days from the 11th Annual Biohacking Conference, May 28-30, 2025, in Austin, TX. If you’re looking for the next conference to attend, the Be Wellthy Conference Connection has you covered with over 100 worldwide events, including virtual, and more added as I find them.

Brace yourselves because today we’re going to talk about pooping. Some people may suggest it is not a topic for polite company, but my goal is to share my experiences and let you decide what to do with the information. By the way, you have Club Member Scott S. to thank for this topic because it was at his clinic where I first used a bidet.

For those who are unaware, a bidet is either a separate, modified toilet or an attachment to a traditional toilet that provides a stream of water to give your undercarriage a bit of the how’s your father. Bidets originated in 18th-century France, and the word bidet is French for a small horse, which refers to the position one takes when squatting over it.

Bidets are popular in certain countries around the world, but less so in the US. In Italy, 76% of bathrooms have bidets, as Italian law has mandated the inclusion of a bidet in homes since 1975. Other countries with widespread use of bidets include Argentina (61%), the Philippines (52%), Saudi Arabia (49%), Japan (38%), and Portugal (36%).¹ The latest estimate suggests between 6% and 12% of US adults have a bidet.² Interest in bidets increased during the pandemic due to the shortage of toilet paper. Remember that one? People were referring to it as “buttcoin.”

From QS Supplies

For those of you who have never seen or used a bidet, you might wonder why you would use one. Here is a simple analogy. Let’s say you go to a park to get grounded and you accidentally step on dog poop. Would you wipe your shoe off with a paper towel or toilet paper? No, you’d look for the nearest hose or fountain to wash it off. Bidets have many benefits beyond cleanliness.

Benefits of Using a Bidet

• Provides a more thorough cleaning than toilet paper alone. As one Redditor pointed out, “TP is like wiping peanut butter out of a shag carpet.”

• Reduces the risk of bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. One study demonstrated that using a bidet significantly decreases the risk of microbial contamination from feces.³

• Gentler on sensitive skin, helping prevent irritation, rashes, and hemorrhoids.

• Beneficial for people with mobility issues, arthritis, or difficulty wiping.

• Reduces toilet paper consumption. Humans use 42 million tons, equivalent to 184 billion rolls, of toilet paper every year. The environmental toll is enormous: 712 million trees are cut down, and 1,165 million tons of water and 78 million tons of oil are used.⁴

• Reduces sewage system strain and potential plumbing issues

My Experience With a Bidet

(Note: Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Scott’s bidet was from Dr. Mercola, who doesn’t sell them anymore. One of my sources for reviews is The Wirecutter, now part of The New York Times. Their review led me to the Brondell non-electric bidet toilet seat that I purchased for under $100. I picked a non-electric one because I don’t have an electrical outlet in my toilet room.

I’m about as far from a plumber/handyman as you can get, yet even I was able to install the bidet toilet seat without any issues. The simple design works as advertised. There is a dual-nozzle system. Turn the dial forward for a front spray (for ladies); turn the dial backward for the rear jet. There is a cleaning setting that kicks on before and after the main jet.

Easy install and a much better throne.

Does it take some getting used to? Sure, but now that I’ve been using it for about six weeks, I don’t see myself going back. I feel much cleaner and glad to be avoiding excessive toilet paper usage (I still use some sparingly to pat dry).

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Club Member Scott S’s favorite question to ask other doctors is “How often do you poop?” That wouldn’t be my preferred icebreaker, but it works for him. He asserts that bowel movement frequency is an indicator of overall health. So what’s the correct answer? It varies depending on several factors. A simple rule of thumb is that the number of daily bowel movements should track with the number of major meals. If you’re eating three squares a day, that’s three visits to the loo for number two. Some might consider that frequency excessive, but unless you’re fasting for extended periods, once a day is probably a reasonable start for most people.

If you’re not ready to make the jump to a bidet, here are some other suggestions for optimal bowel movements.

Tips for Better Pooping

• Stay hydrated! I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s really that important.

• Traditional bleached toilet paper contains forever chemicals that you absorb through the skin and get into the water supply.⁵ Switch to bamboo toilet paper, which is better for your body and the environment.

• Use the Squatty Potty to improve your posture for elimination.

• Consider using OxyPowder for a natural and gentle digestive cleanse.

• Consider a high-quality probiotic to balance the gut microbiome. Many probiotics are useless because they don’t make it through the stomach. Probiotic Breakthrough from BiOptimizers and spore-based probiotics from Just Thrive are two options.

• Use a rebounder (trampoline) or whole-body vibration to increase circulation and lymphatic flow.

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The Daily Habit is where I share my habits related to the fundamentals: sleep, diet, physical activity, mindfulness, and stress management.

To support a healthy gut and detoxification, include these four food types in your diet:

1. Soluble fiber: Apples, citrus fruits, psyllium husk, flaxseeds, beans, and lentils

2. Insoluble fiber: Vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, skins of fruits and vegetables.

3. Prebiotics: Asparagus, bananas, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes

4. Probiotics: Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi

If you are more carnivore-leaning, consider collagen-rich foods like bone broth and gelatin.

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Last week’s answer

Be Wellthy Club entrants: Luke S., Scott L., Ariel E., Scott S., Renata B.

Raffle prizes are for Be Wellthy Club Members only. Club members can email bewellthy@substack.com with the correct answer to each week’s brain training and be entered into a monthly raffle to win one of two prize packages every month. I do respond to every email.

This week:

I have two puzzles for you this week. Answer either one for one raffle entry or both for two raffle entries.

1. An English word has the same three letters in the same order before and after the middle letters. What is the word?

   _ _ _ ERGRO _ _ _

2. You have $9.60 in your pocket. You have an equal number of quarters, dimes, and nickels, but no other coins. How many of each of the coins do you have?

See the answer.

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Last year, I shared my favorite bits of advice from Kevin Kelly. There are so many good ones on the list, but this one caught my attention: “Once a month, take a different route home, enter your house by a different door, and sit in a different chair at dinner. No ruts.” What ruts are you stuck in?

Would you help me by sharing this newsletter with one person you think would benefit?

1. https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/hotel-bathing-bath-shower-bidet-hotspots.html

2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/03/18/pandemic-covid-bidet-sales/

3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357396171_Microbial_contamination_of_hands_with_or_without_the_use_of_bidet_toilets_electric_toilet_seats_with_water_spray_after_defecation

4. https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/other-products/environmental-impact-of-toilet-paper

5. https://wsvn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PFAS-in-Toilet-paper-and-impact-on-wastewater-systems.pdf