Yogurt has exceptional nutritional value. It is rich in protein, vitamins, calcium, and probiotics that are essential to maintain gut health. Yogurt intake will help your body by killing harmful bacteria and making good bacteria grow. It will also boost your immune system.

But unfortunately, some people don’t react well to yogurt. Many people have reported getting heartburn after consuming yogurt.

So, you might be wondering, why does yogurt give me heartburn? 

Gut bacteria produce some forms of stomach acid. In some individuals, the production may be higher than usual – histamine release will be triggered, and that might contribute to creating stomach acid reflux which, in other words, is known as heartburn. 

Implications Of Heartburn

Heartburn is an uncomfortable sensation inside your body that makes you feel fumes on the inside of your stomach and thus creates a sensation of feeling bloated. You will also feel as if all the chemicals from your stomach are coming up through your food pipe into your throat. 

Now you are likely to experience it right after you’ve eaten or after you’ve laid down immediately after eating. 

Heartburns are quite normal on their own, and they generally don’t mean anything serious. However, if you have been feeling heartburn quite frequently, then that is a definite cause for concern. 

You might be slowly developing GERD condition, which is something that will cause several other health and dietary problems for you. 

About GERD 

GERD is gastroesophageal acid reflux that causes stomach acid to come back up your throat from your stomach. It is an unpleasant feeling to begin with, but if it keeps happening, then it might damage your esophageal lining.  

Yogurt will not give you GERD, but the heartburn that is sometimes caused by yogurt might give you a sensation that feels like GERD. 

Lastly, let us clarify that GERD and stomach acid reflux are almost the same things. GERD is the chronic version of the disease that cannot be cured permanently, whereas acid reflux comes and goes based on what you eat. 

These two terms are very often used interchangeably but remember that they do indicate different levels of severity. 

GERD happens when a ring of muscle that’s located at the lower esophageal sphincter starts to malfunction. This muscle holds the food down, and when it is damaged, the stomach acids along with food will travel back up. 

One natural way to prevent this is to put small morsels of food in your mouth at a time and eat slowly. 

Lifestyle Tips To Avoid Heartburn

There are a lot of things we had previously been warned about that we never listened to. But if you’re struggling with heartburn right now, then it’s time to rewind and visit those healthy lifestyle tips again. If you start practicing caution now, you might not develop GERD. 

Do Not Lie Down After Eating

Never lie down or make yourself horizontal after you have eaten. This will cause the food to come up along with the acids and cause heartburn. In more severe cases, the food might even get stuck in your windpipe and cause you to choke.

Do Not Eat Too Quickly 

If you eat too fast, you might end up eating quicker than the food that can be processed inside your stomach. 

This will cause heartburn because the stomach will be trying to produce a lot more acid than usual in order to keep up with your pace. Once the food is digested, the extra acid will rise up your throat and give you that heart-burning sensation. 

Eat Foods That Are Heartburn Friendly 

You don’t always have to reach out for medication for fixing health problems. There are some food items that will be able to neutralize your stomach acid and stop that uncomfortable burning sensation inside. 

These foods are vegetables, oatmeal, fruits without citric acid, lean meats like chicken, seafood, the whites of eggs, and so on. 

All of these will soothe your stomach, but please make sure that you don’t eat them too fast. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is heartburn a symptom of lactose intolerance? 

It’s not a symptom, but lactose intolerant people frequently will get heartburns if they eat dairy. 

2. Are apples and bananas good for acid reflux?

Yes, both these fruits can heal stomach acid reflux. With apples, the sweeter ones will have a more soothing effect than the sour ones. All ripe bananas have a high potassium content which makes them capable of neutralizing stomach acids. 

3. What gives instant relief from heartburns?

One instantaneous remedy that you can try for quicker relief is to use baking soda. 

Get some water, heat it up to a mildly high temperature, put half a teaspoon of baking soda in it, stir to mix and then drink up. Baking soda is an alkaline substance; this is why it helps to neutralize the acids in your stomach and give you instant relief.  

4. Why does my friend have heartburn, spitting up, horrific heartburn pain every day/every night?

Sounds like your friend has GERD. Stomach acid reflux shouldn’t happen that frequently unless there’s a deeper problem. Make them eat GERD-friendly food, try drinking baking soda water, and see if it helps. If it doesn’t, you have to go pay the doctor a visit about this before it gets worse. 

5. Why do I get heartburn randomly?

If you keep getting heartburn, then it either means that you have developed GERD, or it means that you have been eating food that is creating an acid pool in your stomach. 

6. How does yogurt trigger heartburn?

Yogurt is a high-fat dairy product. Foods with a high-fat content have been reported to cause heartburns as a result of the relaxing effect they have on the sphincter. 

7. Can you eat dairy if you have acid reflux?

If your acid reflux is triggered by dairy products, then you can’t have it. If you keep having it, you might ultimately end up getting a chronic condition called GERD.


No matter how tired you feel after eating, do not lie down if you don’t want heartburn. Yogurt usually helps with heartburn, but since you’re asking why does yogurt give me heartburn, we’d tell you to test for lactose intolerance. Hope our article was able to give you some perspective today. Best of luck!