The best time of day to eat yogurt

(Dan Tri) - Yogurt, made from fermented milk, brings many health benefits. So when should you eat yogurt to improve intestinal health, bone health and lose weight?

The best time for gut health

Some of the best times to eat yogurt for gut health include:

- Thirty minutes before meals.

- Served with meals

According to Verywell Health , yogurt contains probiotics, beneficial bacteria that can improve gut health. Specifically, yogurt contains Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium. To benefit gut health, these probiotics must reach the intestines.

Research has found that Lactobacillus is better able to survive the harsh environment of the stomach and reach the gut when taken with a meal or 30 minutes before a meal, possibly due to lower stomach acid when the stomach is empty.

Yogurt has many health benefits (Illustration: Gettyimages).

The worst time to eat yogurt for gut health is 30 minutes after a meal.

In the same study, Lactobacillus did not survive in large numbers when consumed 30 minutes after a meal, possibly because increased stomach acid during digestion destroys probiotics before they reach the gut.

The best time to lose weight

Yogurt can help you lose weight. The best times to eat yogurt to help you lose weight include:

- As a snack.

- As a substitute ingredient.

- Like dessert.

- At breakfast.

- Before meals.

Eating yogurt regularly has been linked to weight maintenance, in part because it replaces less healthy foods that are high in sugar or fat. Replacing unhealthy snacks, desserts, or ingredients (like mayonnaise) with yogurt can help you cut calories and lose weight.

The high calcium and protein content in yogurt can also regulate appetite and prevent overeating. Eating yogurt before meals can prevent overeating.

Eating yogurt for breakfast can also help curb cravings throughout the day. The protein in yogurt can help stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing cravings caused by blood sugar fluctuations.

If you are trying to lose weight, choose plain, unsweetened yogurt. Sweetened yogurt is a significant source of added sugar and can contribute to weight gain.

The best time for stronger bones

The best time to eat yogurt for bone health is:

- At the same time every day (e.g. breakfast), to help form a daily routine.

- After exercise.

Eating yogurt at any time of day can help strengthen bones. People who eat a lot of yogurt tend to have better bone mineral density.

Yogurt contains calcium, a mineral essential for bone health. The vitamin D, protein, and probiotics in yogurt can also support bone health.

Eating yogurt at any time of day can help strengthen bones, but some people find that getting into the habit of eating a food at the same time each day (for example, for breakfast or an afternoon snack) helps them remember to eat it.

In particular, eating yogurt after exercise may benefit bone health. In one study, high-intensity, high-impact exercise combined with eating Greek yogurt after exercise was associated with improved bone formation.

Regular exercise and eating yogurt can do more for bone health than just eating at the right time.

Some notes when feeding yogurt to children

- Do not feed children yogurt when hungry.

According to the National Institute of Nutrition ( Ministry of Health ), the reason is that the low pH level in the stomach (only about 2) will harm the beneficial bacteria in yogurt. The health-enhancing effects of yogurt are therefore reduced.

- Children should only eat yogurt about 30 minutes or 1 hour after meals.

At this time, the stomach contracts strongly to mix the food, the pH can increase to 4-5, this is the ideal condition for the beneficial bacteria in yogurt to work. However, because the beneficial bacteria in yogurt are very active, it is also very easy to damage tooth enamel, especially the teeth of young children, so children should rinse their mouths immediately after eating.

- Do not heat yogurt before use, or add hot water to yogurt.

This method will cause the beneficial bacteria in yogurt to lose their ability to function, so the yogurt will lose its nutrients and ability to stimulate digestion.

However, yogurt kept in the refrigerator, when taken out to feed children immediately, children are susceptible to sore throat. Therefore, you can soak the whole box of yogurt in warm water about 45 degrees Celsius, when touching the box feels warm, it can be used for children.

- Do not use yogurt with other medicines.

Antibiotics or drugs containing sulfur amines can disrupt or destroy beneficial bacteria in yogurt.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/thoi-diem-tot-nhat-trong-ngay-de-an-sua-chua-20250904172733965.htm