Yogurt is a common food that is used to prevent and treat gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, gas and loose stools. According to AskDrSears.com, the live cultures found in yogurt can help heal intestinal infections, promote colon health and reduce yeast infections. Even though yogurt can help alleviate bloating, it can in some instances cause bloating. If you're lactose intolerant or you are allergic to milk, ingesting yogurt can trigger digestive complications, including bloating.
Digestive Advantages
If bloating is the result of a digestive complication, eating yogurt may help reduce your symptoms. Yogurt contains live and active cultures that help promote regularity and colon health. Most bloating is felt in the lower abdomen, and abnormalities in the colon may be the cause. If you are lacking helpful bacteria in your digestive system, bloating may develop. Eating yogurt will help replace and foster an environment for probiotics to thrive. The bacteria in yogurt helps stimulate the production of white blood cells, which aid in fighting off infection and disease, according to AskDrSears.com.
Complications
Yogurt contains less lactose -- the sugar found in milk -- than most dairy products. Not everyone has the same level of intolerance to lactose. If you have mild to moderate intolerance to lactose, you may not develop any common lactose intolerant symptoms, unless you ingest large amounts. Severe cases of lactose intolerance can trigger bloating, gas and diarrhea within half an hour of eating yogurt, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Lactose intolerance is the result of not being able to digest the sugar in milk. Your body lacks the lactase enzyme needed to break down lactose so it can be absorbed into your body.
Allergic Reaction
If have a milk allergy you should not eat yogurt. Not only will eating yogurt cause bloating, you will also develop other symptoms that could harm your body. A milk allergy may cause bloating, gas, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, cramping and stomach pain. Along with these digestive symptoms, you may also develop skin rashes, swelling in your throat, lips or face, nasal congestion, trouble breathing and lightheadedness, according to MayoClinc.com. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to milk can cause a severe reaction that may end in death.
Precautions
Do not use yogurt to treat a medical condition without first talking with your doctor. Not all yogurt products may be beneficial for digestive conditions. Some yogurt products are high in fat, high in sugar and may not contain live and active cultures.
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