Greek yogurt Because it's been fermented and strained, Greek yogurt is lower in lactose and easier for most people to digest than a glass of cow's milk. Most Greek yogurts also contain probiotics that help increase the good bacteria in your gut.
Because of its straining and fermentation processes, Greek yogurt has less lactose than regular yogurt, milk and even ice cream. And its live and active cultures help break down the lactose it does contain, making it easier for people to digest.
In general, our body absorbs all the nutrients from the yogurt and completely digests it within 1-2 hours. Although Greek yogurt is considered easily digestible for most people since it contains less lactose than a standard glass of cow's milk.
While dairy products often face flak for leading to digestive problems, yogurt can be excluded from the list. Yogurt is healthy and easily digestible even for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.
Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with a yogurt culture. Health benefits can include promoting bone health and aiding digestion. Some yogurts contain active, living bacteria known as probiotics, which can help keep the intestines healthy.
Consuming probiotics like Greek yogurt may improve your digestive system's ability to handle a wide variety of foods. It may also help regulate bowel movements. Greek yogurt has been connected to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease.
Lactose intolerance occurs in people who lack the enzyme they need to break down lactose, the sugar in milk. It causes digestive distress when you eat dairy products. A food intolerance is different from a food allergy.
Foods that are easier to digest include toast, white rice, bananas, eggs, chicken, salmon, gelatine, applesauce, and oatmeal. Symptoms of digestive problems include acid reflux, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Eating dairy products like yogurt with active, live bacteria cultures may help strengthen gut health to reduce inflammation.
Probiotics: The good bacteria can help you go.
Kimball says any yogurt — not just those that advertise they're good for gastrointestinal health — can be a good source of probiotics that help relieve constipation. “I usually look for a low-sugar Greek yogurt,” she says.
The Bottom Line
Yogurt can be a nutritious choice regardless of whether you choose Greek or regular. They both have protein, calcium and probiotics (the good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy). Choosing the plain variety for both types of yogurts is recommended.
Greek yogurt that is labelled 'contains live cultures', provides beneficial bacteria known as probiotics, which when eaten regularly may support gut health. This is because regular inclusion of fermented foods, including yogurt, appears to increase the microbial diversity of the gut.
Because it's been fermented and strained, Greek yogurt is lower in lactose and easier for most people to digest than a glass of cow's milk. Most Greek yogurts also contain probiotics that help increase the good bacteria in your gut.
No-Sugar-Added Yogurt
If someone with IBS tolerates dairy products, plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt is a nutritious dietary addition. Greek yogurt contains live probiotics—bacteria that offer many health benefits, including for gut health.
Even though dairy products are the major culprits of discomfort for some IBS sufferers, yogurt proves to be an exception. The live cultures in the yogurt break down the lactose, so it's less likely to cause gassy symptoms.
Because straining removes some of the milk sugar, Greek yogurt can be easier to digest for people who are sensitive to lactose. However, in roughly the same amount of calories, some types of Greek yogurt can pack up to double the amount of protein while also cutting sugar content in half.
One of the best probiotics, yogurt is packed with good bacteria that promote a healthy gut (and you need to keep those good bacteria happy all the time if you don't want bloating). Essentially, a healthy gut means less bloating. So if you're feeling gassy, go for some plain yogurt or Greek yogurt.
Some Greek yogurt also boasts added probiotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei that may help increase the good bacteria in your gut.
Always buy probiotic-rich yogurts
“Not all yogurts contain live cultures,” Manaker says. So, make sure to pay close attention to what's on the label. “Many shelf-stable yogurts do not have live cultures, and therefore they may not support gut health as effectively as those with these live bacteria.
With the four recommended times mentioned above, the best options to consume yogurt are in the morning or on an empty stomach. This is because the good bacteria or probiotics in yogurt must reach the large intestine alive to maintain digestive efficiency and health.
Some studies suggest that having certain types of good bacteria may help insulate people from certain health woes. There is some evidence that probiotics, like those found in yogurt, can help improve symptoms of some digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and certain types of diarrhea.