Which type of yogurt is best for someone with diarrhea?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Probiotic yogurt may help relieve diarrhea, particularly diarrhea caused by antibiotics or occurring in young children. The live cultures in probiotic yogurt—such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium—can help restore healthy gut bacteria, shorten the duration of diarrhea, and support digestive recovery.

However, diarrhea can have many causes, ranging from mild infections to more serious underlying conditions. Since the right treatment depends on the cause, it's worth taking a few minutes to better understand your symptoms before deciding on next steps. Try this free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights and guidance on what to do next.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover if yogurt worsens your diarrhea Learn what causes your diarrhea after yogurt See if your diarrhea needs urgent care Find OTC relief for diarrhea symptoms Find a gastroenterologist for diarrhea Understand safe home remedies for diarrhea Find likely causes of your diarrhea

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Explanation

Probiotic yogurt is a type of yogurt that contains beneficial bacteria, which can help improve gut health. According to the studies provided, probiotic yogurt can be beneficial for people experiencing diarrhea.

Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea: One study suggests that probiotic yogurt can help prevent diarrhea that occurs after taking antibiotics. This is because antibiotics can disturb the balance of good bacteria in the gut, and probiotics can help restore it.
Children with Diarrhea: Another study shows that probiotic yogurt can help reduce diarrhea in young children. It suggests that the live bacteria in the yogurt can help fight the germs causing diarrhea.

Overall, choosing a yogurt labeled as 'probiotic' might be helpful if you have diarrhea. If you're experiencing persistent digestive symptoms, you can use this free symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your discomfort and whether you should seek medical care.

(References)

Velasco M, Requena T, Delgado-Iribarren A, Peláez C, & Guijarro C. (2019). Probiotic Yogurt for the Prevention of Antibiotic-associated .... Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 30439760.
Fox MJ, Ahuja KD, Robertson IK, Ball MJ, & Eri RD. (2015). Can probiotic yogurt prevent diarrhoea in children on .... BMJ open, 25588782.
Pashapour N, & Iou SG. (2006). Evaluation of yogurt effect on acute diarrhea in 6-24-month .... The Turkish journal of pediatrics, 16848109.

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