Yogurt is a healthy snack. But it is often label as acidic food due to its soreness. The probiotic properties of yogurt make your digestion good, but does it helps with acid reflux too? Yes! Yogurt can help with acid reflux. But it depends on the type of yogurt you eat. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. It causes heartburn and nausea. Sometimes it can also cause a bad taste in your mouth, like acidity.
Some yogurts are thought to help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Probiotics can reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach lining. According to News Medical, yogurt that is not too sour is good for Acid Reflux.
So coming to yogurt and acid reflux? It’s all a matter of the kind of yogurt you eat.
Yogurt for Acid Reflux? YES! But Which Kinds?
Yogurt with probiotics can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. There are many different brands of yogurt. The best yogurts for lowering acid reflux have these things:
- live and active cultures low-fat or fat-free (less than 3 grams of fat per serving) less added sugar
- It’s not just about the fat or sugar, but the amount of acid.
High-fat yogurts can trigger heartburn because it stays in your stomach longer and causes more reflux. If you choose a high-fat yogurt, you should eat it only with food so that your stomach doesn’t have to do all the work of digesting the yogurt on its own.
Sugar might seem like it would increase acid reflux. But not so much when it is added to yogurt. Sugar doesn’t cause heartburn on its own (one of the reasons why we love soda), but too much sugar can make you eat more and gain weight.
Weight gain can lead to increased heartburn symptoms, which is the opposite of what you want.
So Which Kind of Yogurt is Best for Acid Reflux?
Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as regular yogurt and half the sugar. It’s perfect for those with acid reflux because it’s low in fat and has live cultures (good bacteria) that fight off harmful bacteria.
Regular yogurt is better than no yogurt, but Greek yogurt contains live cultures that ‘help’ your stomach.
Yogurt brands like Stonyfield and Brown Cow make good yogurts (Pinkberry or any other brand of plain non-fat yogurt will work too).
If you can’t find a low-fat yogurt (less than 3 grams of fat) with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving (green on the glycemic index), then have half a cup or less and eat it with food.
So yogurt is good for acid reflux, but only if you choose the right kind. The best ones to select are greek yogurts because they’re low in fat and contain live cultures that can fight off harmful bacteria in your stomach. So yogurt is good for acid reflux, but only if you choose the right kind.
The best ones to choose are greek yogurts because they’re low in fat and contain live cultures that can fight off harmful bacteria in your stomach.
The lactobacilli and bifidobacteria found in yogurt also reduce feelings of nausea by producing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA calms the stomach and makes digestion easier.
Does Yogurt cause Acid reflux?
The probiotics in yogurt will reproduce when they contact harmful bacteria that cause your stomach to have too much acid. By eating yogurt, you’re preventing harmful bacteria from growing out of control which is precisely what we don’t want if you have a case of acid reflux.
Too many harmful bacteria (from having too much sugar in one sitting) can lead to heartburn.
How many yogurts should I eat to get Acid reflux?
If you can’t find a low-fat yogurt (less than 3 grams of fat) with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving (green on the glycemic index), then have half a cup or less. Eat it with food.
The best yogurts to choose from are greek yogurts because they’re low in fat and contain live cultures that can fight off harmful bacteria in your stomach.
Does yogurt increase stomach acid
Yogurt by itself doesn’t create excess stomach acid that leads to heartburn. But too much sugar in any food can lead to weight gain and high cholesterol, which both cause acid reflux symptoms.
Too much harmful bacteria (from having too much sugar in one sitting) can lead to heartburn, not too little.
If you find that yogurt helps your acid reflux, then it might be worth it to you to buy some at the store. But always remember not to go overboard with how much you eat or drink.
If you can’t find a low-fat yogurt (less than 3 grams of fat) with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving (green on the glycemic index), then have half a cup or less and eat it with food.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind Of Yogurt is Best For Acid Reflux?
The low-varieties and skim yogurt is considered best for Acid Reflux. The yogurt made from whole milk are less preferred.
Can Yogurt Make Acid Reflux Worse?
As Whole milk yogurt is difficult to digest due to higher fat content, it may trigger the GERD symptoms, Unnless, you are specifically Lactose intolerant, Yogurt will not make acid reflux worse.
Is Frozen Yogurt Good For Acid Reflux?
Foods that are high in fat content may worsen your acid reflex. The prime reason is that it delays the process of stomach emptying and results in more pressure on the esophageal spincter.
