Poop Science, Incorrect Pooping May Bring A Stroke and more.

Depending where you are from, the pooping takes different positions. If you are from the developed western world, you  may do it while sitting down. But people from Asia and Africa often poop while crouching.
Even though this is mostly looked at as a cultural separation, in a not so recent study, it was found that the squatting has medical advantages.

The aim of the study was to compare the straining forces applied when sitting or squatting duringdefecation. Twenty-eight apparently healthy volunteers (ages 17–66 years) with normal bowel func-tion were asked to use a digital timer to record the net time needed for sensation of satisfactoryemptying while defecating in three alternative positions: sitting on a standard-sized toilet seat (41–42 cm high), sitting on a lower toilet seat (31–32 cm high), and squatting. They were also askedto note their subjective impression of the intensity of the defecation effort. Six consecutive bowelmovements were recorded in each position. Both the time needed for sensation of satisfactory bowelemptying and the degree of subjectively assessed straining in the squatting position were reducedsharply  in  all  volunteers  compared  with  both  sitting  positions  (P<0:0001 bowel="" br="" compared="" conclusion="" confirmed="" defecation="" effort="" emptying="" excessive="" expulsive="" in="" nbsp="" of="" posture="" posturenecessitates="" satisfactory="" sensation="" sitting="" squatting="" study="" that="" the="" thepresent="" to="">

In this particular poop study, the researchers had 28 healthy people to perform a simple task,

"to use a digital timer to record the net time needed for sensation of satisfactory emptying while defecating in three alternative positions. and also to record their subjective impression of the intensity of the defecation effort."

The three choices were,
Sitting on a standard toilet,
Sitting on a toilet with a significantly lower bowl,
Squatting toilet.

The amount of effort a person exerts during defecation is important.

If one strains too much, it can cause damage to soft tissues due to a buildup of pressure; this can eventually lead to piles, prolapse, (where the rectum protrudes out of the anus) or even vaginal varicose veins. Regular straining might also increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke.The results showed that all 28 participants:

"Registered a sharp reduction of time necessary for sensation of satisfactory bowel emptying in the squatting posture compared to either of the sitting positions." 

Also all participants noted that it felt easier when crouching.

These results also might help account for the "near absence of hemorrhoids, constipation, hiatus hernia, and diverticulitis coli" in less-developed countries.

Because pooping is such a regular occurrence across our entire lifespan, even if crouching only makes a small difference to our health, it might be worth considering.
Read about six more wonderful things about poop, here