Acid Reflux
Yogurt Vs. Milk – Which One’s Better For Acid Reflux?
May 18, 2017While both are dairy products, yogurt and milk have different effects on acid reflux. Read on to find out why yogurt is beneficial for acid reflux and why milk is not.
What’s the Difference Between the Two?
Yogurt is made by adding a starter or ‘bacterial cultures’ to pasteurized, homogenized, warm milk. In this warm temperature, the bacteria convert lactose (the main sugar in dairy products) into lactic acid. This makes it acidic, with a potential of Hydrogen (pH) ranging from 4 to 5. A pH scale of less than 7 is acidic. Whereas milk is non-acidic, with a pH of about 7.
Interestingly, the acidity level of a food does not determine whether it is an ‘acid-forming food’ or not. Yogurt, though acidic in nature, is a low acid-forming food, because it does not affect the acid-alkaline balance of the body.
Yogurt has Probiotics (Good Bacteria)
Bad bacteria in the digestive tract are one of the causes of acid reflux. Probiotics are microorganisms (certain bacteria and yeasts) that are good for the body. These probiotics or ‘good bacteria’ prevent the bad bacteria from growing rapidly. Probiotics also help in reducing inflammation of the stomach caused by acid reflux.
[mc4wp_form id=”12950″]
Yogurt is Easier to Digest
The bacteria in it release an enzyme in the stomach that makes it easier to break down lactose. Because of its sugar content, lactose is hard to digest.
Milk can Aggravate Acid Reflux
In a study conducted by Gut and Liver, an international journal of gastroenterology, it was found that cow’s milk aggravated acid reflux among participants. They also found that medication for GERD was ineffective because of milk in the diet. When it was removed from the diet of the participants, their condition improved.
To conclude, although milk has numerous health benefits, it’s one of the foods to avoid for acid reflux.
Mahesh is a hormone health counsellor & holistic health expert. He has a Mastery Certification in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis from the US, is certified in Functional Nutrition from Washington State University and uses a wide array of healing modalities to guide his clients to vibrant health and well-being.
Latest posts by Mahesh Jayaraman (see all)
- Getting Pregnant: Your Foundational Health is Most Important - February 15, 2022
- Getting Pregnant after 35 – You CAN do it! - February 1, 2022
- Fertility Testing for Men and Couples Decoded - January 29, 2022
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219330/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166669/
http://www.gutnliver.org/journal/view.html?uid=1104
http://extension.psu.edu/lackawanna/news/2014/yogurt-provides-important-nutrients-and-promotes-digestive-health
http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease
https://www.healthyeating.org/Milk-Dairy/Nutrients-in-Milk-Cheese-Yogurt/Yogurt-Nutrition.aspx
