Kefir is a cultured milk product, similar to yogurt, but it contains different strands of bacteria and yeast. Kefir is drinkable and commonly used to improve your overall health. If you develop stomach pain after drinking kefir, you may have a milk allergy or you may be lactose intolerant. Stomach pain is a symptom that needs to be assessed by your doctor for clinical diagnosis. Kefir may also be used to treat stomach pain related to certain digestive conditions, such as the stomach flu or food poisoning. Do not use kefir to treat any medical condition without the direction of a medical doctor.
Milk Allergy
Milk is one of the most common food-related allergies. If you have a milk allergy, drinking kefir will cause a reaction. A milk allergy is a hypersensitivity to the proteins found in milk. Instead of your immune system recognizing the proteins as safe for consumption, your body overreacts to the proteins as if they are harmful, triggering a chemical reaction in the body, according to MayoClinic.com. The digestive system can become inflamed, leading to stomach pain, cramping, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea and vomiting. A milk allergy will cause symptoms in other parts of the body, such as asthma, nasal congestion and skin rashes.
Lactose Intolerant
Kefir contains less lactose than most dairy products because the bacterium that's present in kefir converts the lactose into lactic acid. Lactose is sugar found in dairy products that can cause digestive difficulty for adults. If you're moderately lactose intolerant, you may be able to drink kefir without any symptoms, but if you're severely intolerant, you may need to avoid drinking kefir. Talk with your doctor about using lactase enzyme supplements to prevent symptoms from drinking kefir.
Kefir to Treat Stomach Pain
Kefir contains probiotics, or helpful bacteria, which may help heal intestinal infections and repair damaged intestinal lining, according to AskDrSears.com. Your colon contains millions of helpful bacteria that assist in maintaining regularity and bowel health. If you develop acute digestive complications, such as the stomach flu or food poisoning, drinking kefir may help shorten the duration and severity of your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about how much and how often you should drink kefir.
Consideration
When using kefir to treat stomach pain, purchase kefir that is low in fat and does not contain any added sugar. Kefir that contains fat and is high in sugar can lead to further diarrhea and irritation to the intestines.
