Yogurt, like other ingredients that naturally contain probiotics, is often celebrated for its ability to improve and regulate your digestion, according to an expert review. But for some people it has the opposite effect, causing stomach pain, indigestion, and other gastrointestinal troubles.
Dairy products like yogurt generally provoke two distinct negative health reactions, according to FARE (Food Allergy Resource and Education). One is lactose intolerance, which causes cramping and discomfort that can last for a day or more. The other is a milk allergy, which can cause symptoms ranging from mild rashes and itching to severe breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness.
Stomach pain after eating yogurt is not normal and should be evaluated by your physician.
Lactose Intolerance
If you're lactose intolerant, yogurt can cause stomach pain. Yogurt is made from cow's milk, which contains lactose, a complex sugar that the body can’t absorb. The small intestine can secrete an enzyme called lactase, which breaks down lactose, allowing it to be digested.
Some people begin to lose their ability to digest lactose when they reach adolescence or adulthood, because they naturally begin to make less lactase. When you don’t have enough lactase, the lactose is not digested and causes stomach pain, gas, bloating, cramping and diarrhea, according to Mayo Clinic.
For some people with lactose intolerance, yogurt is easier to handle than milk, because the live and active cultures in yogurt help break down lactose, making it easier to digest. If one brand of yogurt is causing problems, it may be worth experimenting with new yogurt products. Different yogurt brands contain different amounts of lactose, according to the University of Virginia. For example, Greek yogurt typically has less lactose than plain yogurt. You may find that you can tolerate a small serving or even an entire container of your favorite brand.
There are also lactose-free yogurts available, as well as plant-based alternatives that contain no lactose.
Milk Allergy
An allergy is very different from an intolerance. When you have a milk allergy, your immune system overreacts to milk proteins, according to Cleveland Clinic. Milk allergies, which are most common in children, can be deadly.
If you're allergic to milk, you may experience more than just stomach pain after eating yogurt. Other common symptoms include hives, nausea or vomiting, and tingling or swelling in the mouth or throat. More severe symptoms include anaphylactic shock and dangerous blood pressure drops.
Most milk allergies are found in children, and most children will outgrow their allergies. In very rare cases, however, milk allergies can develop suddenly in adults, according to AllergyUK.
A milk allergy is a serious medical condition that needs to be diagnosed by your doctor. Exposure may require emergency treatment.
Yogurt as Treatment
Yogurt is commonly recommended to treat stomach pain related to the stomach flu, food poisoning and other conditions that cause diarrhea. Yogurt may help restore good bacteria in the gut and may shorten the duration and severity of gastrointestinal issues like constipation, bloating, and diarrhea, according to Mayo Clinic.
This positive health effect is due to yogurt’s probiotic cultures. Yogurt is a fermented food ingredient, and naturally contains living microorganisms that can join the colony of trillions of bacteria in your gut. Eating yogurt and other foods with probiotics can maintain or improve the health of your own gut microbiome.
If you're lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy, but want to enjoy yogurt’s healthy effects on digestion, you can also choose other naturally probiotic food ingredients, such as kimchi, or purchase probiotic supplements that are lactose and dairy-free.
