Yogurt is commonly used to treat stomach bloating because it contains live and active cultures that promote colon and digestive health. For some people, eating yogurt may cause excessive bloating and gas. If you develop bloating after eating yogurt, you may be lactose intolerant or you may have a milk allergy. Do not use yogurt to treat stomach bloating without first talking with your doctor.
Yogurt Treatment
Yogurt is commonly used to treat various gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gas, bloating and diarrhea, according to AskDrSears.com. Yogurt contains helpful bacteria that are found in your digestive system. These helpful bacteria, or probiotics, help maintain a healthy balance that regulates your bowel movements. Your doctor may recommend the consumption of yogurt on a daily basis to help alleviate bloating. Stay away from yogurts that are high in fat and sugar or yogurts that are heat treated. These yogurts may cause digestive complications.
Bloating from Lactose Intolerance
Yogurt contains less lactose than most dairy products, but it is not lactose-free. Depending on the severity of your intolerance to lactose, you may or may not be able to eat yogurt without becoming bloated. Lactose intolerance is a condition that occurs when you can't digest lactose, a sugar in dairy products. The live and active cultures in yogurt help to digest some of the lactose but do not eliminate all the lactose. If you are severely lactose intolerance, eating yogurt can trigger symptoms, such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach pain and cramping.
Bloating from Milk Allergy
A milk allergy will cause bloating and other symptoms to develop after you eat yogurt. Yogurt is made from cow's milk and contains milk proteins that can cause a milk allergy. If you have been diagnosed with a milk allergy, avoid eating yogurt. Bloating that results from eating yogurt because of a milk allergy can cause other symptoms to develop, including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, hives, skin irritation, facial swelling, asthma and sinus complications.
Considerations
If you are lactose intolerant, you can take a lactase enzyme before eating yogurt to prevent bloating from developing. You can use a soy-based yogurt for the same benefits of the beneficial bacteria to treat digestive symptoms if you're allergic to milk. You can also get probiotics by taking a daily supplement that is lactose-free.
