Not much to add. I’ve tried searching various other sources and have come across only two possible answers, neither of which is entirely satisfactory based on my data set of…, erm, one. Anyway. For me, cheese and yogurt are useful balancers when I overindulge in high-fibre foods - e.g. when my annual citrus shipment from Texas arrives and I gorge on grapefruit. Or when I suddenly realize that I’ve just eaten a big bowl of raisin bran when that’s what I had for breakfast, too.
The two theories: Theory one is that lactose intolerant people may think cheese and yogurt are binding simply because all other dairy products give them diarrhea. But I’m not lactose-intolerant, not one bit. Theory two is that the cultures in cheese and yogurt balance out the intestinal flora, but that also doesn’t seem to fit the fact pattern because I don’t have to be ill to get the benefit.
Any thoughts out there?
Anecdotally it seems to be a very individual response. I’m on a list for parents of kids with Hirschsprungs and other fun bowel disorders and some kids get very constipated with dairy and others don’t. Nobody seems to have an explanation or theory as to why. I’ve never had a gastro tell me to limit dairy.
FWIW.
There’s evidence that young children with milk protein allergies can become constipated rather than diarrheal. However, I don’t know of any research applying this to adults.
Best I can do. A sample of one with self-reported correlations is not likely to return much that’s meaningful.
A general diet with lots of protein rich foods has less fiber, and contributes less water than a diet of the same caloric content that has more carbohydrates. For a lot of people, that means lower volume, harder stool. If your gut tone is lower, that means more strain to move the stool through the lower bowel.
Tris
Dairy can slow down some folks digestion (as the fat and/or specific sugar is digested)
Yogurt cultures are also said to be beneficial (stabillizers more or less) for the digestive track (intestines). That is the word in my health nut circles.