Generally, drinking yogurt 30 minutes to 2 hours after a meal is the most effective. Under normal conditions, the pH value of gastric juice ranges from 1 to 3. When the stomach is empty, the gastric juice is acidic with a pH value below 2, which is not suitable for the growth of active lactic acid bacteria in yogurt. Only when the stomach's pH value is higher can the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt fully grow, which is beneficial to health. About two hours after a meal, the human gastric juice is diluted, and the pH value rises to 3 to 5. Drinking yogurt at this time is most conducive to absorbing its nutrients.
In addition, if yogurt is consumed on an empty stomach, it can easily stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to empty, and the nutrients in the yogurt are excreted without being thoroughly digested and absorbed. Drinking after a meal can reduce this stimulation and allow the yogurt to be slowly absorbed in the stomach.
Drinking at night is best for supplementing calcium.
Yogurt is a good source of calcium in food. From the perspective of calcium supplementation, drinking yogurt at night has more benefits. Because the period from midnight to early morning is when the body's blood calcium level is lowest, which is conducive to the absorption of calcium from food. At the same time, there are fewer factors affecting calcium absorption in the body during this period. Although milk also contains a high amount of calcium, the lactic acid in yogurt combines with calcium, making it more effective in promoting calcium absorption.
However, when drinking yogurt at night, it is important to remember that certain bacterial strains and acidic substances in yogurt can be damaging to teeth. You should brush your teeth promptly after drinking.