Honey has been shown to play a role in extending the survival period of beneficial bacteria in yogurt within the gut.
"We became interested in the combination of yogurt and honey, which is commonly seen in the Mediterranean diet, and studied how it affects the microbial community living in the human gastrointestinal tract," said Professor Hanna Holscher from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in agricultural consumer environment sciences.
According to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Greek yogurt and other yogurts contain probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium animalis in addition to the basic starter cultures. The intake of specific probiotics can promote digestive health and regular bowel movements, and may have positive effects on mood and cognition.
Enzymes secreted in the human mouth, stomach, and intestines aid digestion and promote nutrient absorption, but they also reduce microbial survivability. This can be beneficial if the microbes are pathogens, but the opposite if they are beneficial bacteria.
The researchers wanted to determine whether honey could help beneficial bacteria that are good for the human body survive in the gut.
As a result of a two-week experiment involving 66 healthy adults, it was found that combining honey and yogurt helps the beneficial bacteria in yogurt survive in the gut. No negative changes were observed. The effects were almost identical to those obtained from consuming yogurt alone.
The researchers repeated the experiment by adding sugar, and when comparing the results of the three conditions (yogurt alone, yogurt + honey, yogurt + sugar), the survival rate of beneficial bacteria was highest in the yogurt with honey.
Professor Holcher said, "I discovered that adding a spoonful of honey to yogurt helps support the survival of beneficial microorganisms in the human body. However, since honey is added sugar, one should be mindful of sugar intake to maintain a healthy weight." He also mentioned, "Nevertheless, adding a small amount of honey to unsweetened yogurt is a good combination."
