We know that antibiotics can kill disease-causing bacteria, but they also kill some of the body’s beneficial bacteria. This can result, among other things, in unpleasant diarrhea and yeast infections. Folk wisdom has suggested that eating active-culture yogurt prevents these side effects, but scientific evidence has been lacking.
A study presented at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology suggests that two servings of yogurt a day while on antibiotics could reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by half. This study was done in adults.
While the yogurt connection in children is still not fully understood, I recommend this tasty treat for children on antibiotics – especially if they are prone to diarrhea.