There is no single best time to eat yogurt. However, there are times that may be more ideal for digestive benefits and protein gains.
Opinions on this are mixed. Some common opinions on when to eat yogurt include the following:
- With a meal
- Shortly after a meal
- On an empty stomach or before breakfast
- Before bedtime
There is insufficient research to support the claim that yogurt is best consumed at any of these times for optimal digestive health.
Why Are Opinions So Mixed?
The reason why there is no agreed-upon best time to eat yogurt for digestive benefits has to do with probiotics.
Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with live bacterial cultures. The bacterial cultures are beneficial probiotics that act in the intestines. When you eat yogurt—specifically with or without other food—may affect how effective the probiotics can be.
Why timing matters: One of the challenges with taking probiotics—whether as food like yogurt or a supplement—is that the live bacteria need to survive until they reach the intestines. The acidic and harsh environment in the stomach can kill some of them before they reach the intestines.
The case for eating yogurt with a meal: The argument in favor of taking probiotics with food is based on the idea that a meal can raise stomach pH, reducing acidity and creating a safer environment for beneficial bacteria to pass through.
The case for eating yogurt without a meal: On the other hand, a meal can trigger the production of digestive enzymes that may affect the probiotic’s ability to survive and colonize the intestines. Eating can also slow the passage of probiotics through the stomach, prolonging their time there and increasing their chance of dying. This is why contrasting recommendations lean toward taking probiotic-rich foods like yogurt on an empty stomach or before breakfast. In fact, a small 2017 study found that people who took probiotics 30 minutes before breakfast and those who took them 30 minutes after breakfast showed increased beneficial bacteria in their guts and decreased “bad” bacteria.
Yogurt is also known to contain high-quality protein, particularly whey (a water-soluble milk protein) and casein (an insoluble milk protein).
To maximize the protein benefits from protein-rich sources like yogurt, you may want to eat them:
- Anytime from after your workout to about two hours after, for building muscle mass
- Before bed, for a steady supply of protein throughout the night, to promote muscle building and adaptation to exercise
- In the morning or with breakfast, to help curb appetite and cravings for the day and stabilize blood sugar
Plain, unsweetened yogurt can also serve as an alternative to less nutritious desserts and snacks, so it may be ideal for you to eat at snack time. This can help lower your calorie intake, keep you fuller due to the protein content, and support weight loss.
The food you pair with your yogurt may also determine how much you benefit from it.
A 2024 study suggested that taking probiotics with oat porridge and milk increased the survival rate of the beneficial bacteria. This is potentially because the food served as a source of nutrients (prebiotics) for the bacteria and shielded them from the harsh gastrointestinal environment.
Pairing your yogurt with prebiotic-rich foods may improve its nutritional benefits. Prebiotics are non-digestible plant fibers that serve as food for beneficial gut bacteria. Examples of prebiotic-rich foods are bananas, peas, honey, and wheat. When paired with yogurt, the prebiotics in these foods can serve as food for the probiotic bacteria in the yogurt.
