Many yogurt lovers enjoy drinking a glass of yogurt in the morning after waking up, believing that it can provide energy and promote digestion. So, is it good to drink yogurt on an empty stomach in the morning? There has been much debate about this issue, but generally speaking, drinking yogurt in the morning has little impact unless you have gastrointestinal diseases or poor digestion. Let's analyze whether it is good to drink yogurt on an empty stomach in the morning.
The Benefits of Drinking Yogurt
Abundant and Easily Absorbed Nutrients
Yogurt contains more nutrients than milk, and these nutrients are more easily digested and absorbed. During the fermentation process of milk, sugars, proteins, and fats are broken down into smaller molecules, which improves the utilization of various nutrients. Additionally, the fermentation process produces various vitamins that are essential for the body. The lactic acid produced during fermentation can effectively enhance the utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the body and is easily absorbed.
Supplementing Probiotics to Improve Immunity
Yogurt is a rich source of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria for human health, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Drinking yogurt in moderation helps maintain the ecological balance of intestinal flora, form a biological barrier, inhibit the invasion of harmful bacteria, promote intestinal motility to prevent constipation, and produce substances that enhance immune function, thereby improving overall immunity and preventing disease.
Inhibiting Toxin Production and Preventing Aging
Yogurt contains various enzymes that can promote digestion and absorption. By inhibiting the growth of putrefactive bacteria in the intestines and suppressing the production of toxins, yogurt can protect the liver and brain from the harm of toxins, prevent aging, and inhibit the formation of carcinogens produced by these putrefactive bacteria.
Is it Good to Drink Yogurt on an Empty Stomach in the Morning?
It is not advisable to drink yogurt on an empty stomach in the morning. This is because the optimal pH value for the growth of probiotics is below 5.4, while the stomach acid in an empty stomach state is higher, with a pH value below 2. When gastric juice is diluted after a meal, the pH value rises to 3.5. Drinking yogurt on an empty stomach can easily kill the probiotics, weaken their health benefits, and it is best to drink yogurt two hours after a meal for better effects.
The Disadvantages of Drinking Yogurt on an Empty Stomach in the Morning
Loss of Health Benefits
Yogurt contains live probiotics, but when heated, the live probiotics are killed, thus losing their health benefits. Drinking yogurt on an empty stomach can increase the concentration of gastric acid, affecting appetite and digestion, which is not beneficial for overall health.
Stimulating the Stomach and Intestines
Some probiotics in yogurt, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, are not acid-resistant. Drinking yogurt on an empty stomach exposes these probiotics to highly acidic gastric juice, leading to their severe destruction. Even if they can enter the intestines, these probiotics are not likely to survive for long. Moreover, drinking yogurt on an empty stomach can cause the conversion of protein in yogurt into heat energy, resulting in the loss of nutritional value.
Can Yogurt be Heated and Consumed?
Active probiotics in yogurt are beneficial substances for human health. They can break down lactose in fresh milk to produce lactic acid, increase intestinal acidity, inhibit the growth of putrefactive bacteria, and weaken the production of toxins in the intestines. In addition, they can enhance intestinal digestion. However, once yogurt is heated and boiled, not only does it lose its unique taste, but the beneficial bacteria are also killed, resulting in the loss of its unique nutritional value.
Other Considerations when Drinking Yogurt
1. Children under the age of three should not drink yogurt, as the nutrients in yogurt can affect the growth and development of their nervous system, which is not beneficial to their health.
2. Yogurt taken straight from the refrigerator may be cold. It is best for people with weak stomachs to let the yogurt sit at room temperature for half an hour before consuming.
3. People with constipation can drink yogurt on an empty stomach in moderation, but those with diarrhea should avoid it. If you are intolerant to yogurt and experience discomfort after consumption, it is best to avoid drinking it.
