The popularity of yogurt remains strong. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the domestic spoonable yogurt market has grown by 5% compared to the previous year, and the offline Greek yogurt market has expanded by approximately 46% year over year. One of the secrets to its popularity is the ability to enjoy new flavor combinations by adding various toppings such as honey, chocolate, fruit, and granola to basic yogurt.

For health, it is good to add a spoonful of honey to yogurt. Research has shown that adding honey to yogurt is beneficial for digestive health.

 

A research team at the University of Illinois in the United States analyzed the effects of the combination of honey and yogurt. The team grew probiotic bacteria and other yogurt cultures on petri dishes. They administered a solution that mimics the composition of saliva, stomach acid, and intestinal bile enzymes to check bacterial survival. Beneficial bacteria contained in yogurt help digestion and promote regular bowel movements, but enzymes in the mouth, stomach, and intestines reduce the number of bacteria.

 

Analysis showed that when administered with saliva, gastric acid, intestinal bile enzymes, yogurt containing honey had a higher bacterial survival rate compared to other yogurts.

 

The research team required 66 healthy adults to consume yogurt containing honey and low-temperature pasteurized yogurt each for two weeks. The team collected stool samples and information about bowel movements from the participants.

 

The analysis showed that yogurt with added honey preserved the most probiotics compared to other yogurts.

 

Honey is a natural syrup composed of fructose, glucose, maltose, oligosaccharides, and sucrose.

 

Honey-derived oligosaccharides serve as an energy source for beneficial bacteria in yogurt. One of the beneficial bacteria, Bifidobacterium, transforms the ferulic acid components contained in honey to create a more favorable environment for survival, according to the research team's analysis.

 

Dr. Hanna Holser, who led the research, stated, "This study confirmed that adding honey to yogurt helps the survival of beneficial bacteria such as probiotics," and added, "However, since honey is composed of simple sugars, excessive consumption can increase the risk of weight gain and cardiovascular diseases, so caution is advised."

 

To maintain the proper intake, add about one spoonful of honey to a single serving of yogurt.

 

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Honey is said to help with recovery from fatigue.

Not a lot, but

 

I'm eating while drinking juice.

 

Remembering one spoon of yogurt for better gut health

It's helpful.