Fermented Milk: Benefits, uses, and precautions

January 18, 2025 Grandma's Medicine Valli Sarvani

Fermented milk is made by introducing lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli into milk, aiding digestion for those with milk protein allergies or lactose intolerance.

Fermentation not only breaks down milk proteins and lactose but also extends the shelf life of milk products.

Health Benefits and Uses

Fermented milk has been used traditionally for various health concerns, including digestive and immune support.

However, scientific evidence supports only some of these claims.

Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: Helps prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): Reduces the risk of eczema in children when consumed during pregnancy and postpartum.
Common Cold: May prevent colds in both adults and children.
Diarrhea: Shortens the duration of diarrhoea in children and infants.
H. Pylori Infections: Alleviates symptoms and speeds recovery from H. pylori infections.
High Cholesterol: Lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, especially in overweight individuals.
High Blood Pressure: Reduces systolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Eases bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.
Lactose Intolerance: Mitigates symptoms like bloating, pain, and diarrhoea.
Radiation-Induced Diarrhea: Reduces diarrhoea caused by radiation therapy.
Rotavirus Diarrhea: Lessens the duration of diarrhoea in children infected with rotavirus.

However, it is not effective for:

Asthma: Does not appear to prevent or reduce asthma symptoms in children.
Upper Airway Infections: Ineffective in preventing infections in children and elderly populations.

Safety and Side Effects

Fermented milk is generally safe when consumed as food or used as medicine for up to a year.

Side effects might include:

Stomach pain
Bloating
Diarrhea
Gas
Constipation

When applied to the skin, its safety and side effects remain unclear.

Special Precautions

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Safe in food amounts, but insufficient evidence exists for medicinal use.
Children: Likely safe for medicinal use up to 5 days.
Weakened Immune Systems: Live bacteria in fermented milk may pose risks for immunocompromised individuals. Consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended.

Distinction from Other Fermented Dairy Products

Fermented milk differs from kefir and yoghurt, which have unique bacterial cultures and preparation processes.

While fermented milk offers several potential benefits, consult a healthcare provider before using it for medicinal purposes, especially if you have specific health conditions or concerns.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on January 26, 2017