Is yogurt beneficial for digestion?
Written by
Stella Nilsson
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Yogurt promotes digestion through live active cultures that, once ingested, help keep your gut bacteria in balance. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, enhance nutrient absorption and lower inflammation. Unsweetened varieties offer the most benefits, as they do not feed the bad bacteria. Even lactose-intolerant people can often use yogurt better than milk.
Probiotic Power
- Live cultures survive stomach acid reaching intestines
- Lactobacillus strains reduce diarrhea duration
- Bifidobacterium improves constipation symptoms
- Daily consumption maintains microbial diversity
Nutrient Enhancement
- Fermentation increases bioavailability of calcium
- Pre-digests lactose making it easier to process
- Produces B vitamins during culturing process
- Improves protein digestibility over milk
Selection Guidelines
- Choose 'live active cultures' on label
- Avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners
- Opt for plain varieties over flavored
- Check expiration dates for maximum potency
Combining fiber with yogurt will give probiotics a boost. Consider adding chia seeds, berries, or almonds to provide prebiotics that feed the good bacteria. Together, these foods provide synergistic benefits to boost regularity and decrease bloating. Having it in the morning takes advantage of our natural peak enzyme secretion.
If you are sensitive to dairy products, try yogurts based on coconut or almond milk. These plant-based products provide similar benefits when enhanced with probiotics. Choose calcium-fortified products to equal that of dairy yogurt. Be cautious when introducing them slowly to assess tolerance.
Consistent improvements in digestion generally matter. Consume yogurt every day for at least six weeks. Doing so allows time for the probiotics to colonize in the gut. Change yogurt brands occasionally, as probiotics have been shown to thrive on a variety of bacterial strains in the gut.
Stay away from sweetened yogurts that have hidden sugars. Yogurt with flavor will typically contain too many sweeteners and encourage the growth of bad bacteria. Use fresh fruit or cinnamon to flavor it naturally. Non-flavored yogurt provides the best support for digestion and has no negatives.
Read the full article: 10 Simple Ways How Improve Digestion Naturally
