To boost the survival of probiotics in yogurt, add honey to the dairy product, new research suggests.
- Two studies show that adding honey supports the probiotic cultures present in yogurt.
- Clover honey, in particular, promotes the survival of probiotics in the intestinal phase of digestion.
- However, you should not overdo it with honey, as it mainly concentrates fructose and glucose. 100 grams of honey contains an average of 82 grams of sugar.
Consuming certain probiotics like those found in yogurt can help with digestive health. But they hit a roadblock when we swallow them.Enzymes in our mouths, stomachs, and intestines aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, but they also reduce the viability of microbes. That’s great when it comes to pathogens, but not necessarily when it comes to beneficial bacteria.” like probiotic strains, explains Hannah Holscher of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in a press release.
After conducting two studies on probiotics present in yogurts, the scientist has the solution to support their survival: add a spoonful of honey to the dairy product.
Yogurt: Honey protects probiotics during digestion
To determine whether honey could help probiotic bacteria survive in the digestive system, the researcher and her team first conducted a laboratory experiment. They tested the effect of four different types of honey (alfalfa, buckwheat, clover and orange blossom) on the viability of the lactic acid bacteria B. animalis in yogurt during a simulation of digestive processes. In addition to the bee product, the strains were exposed to solutions that mimic the composition of saliva, stomach acid, intestinal bile and enzymes.
Results of the work presented in the journal The Journal of Nutrition : yogurt with honey – especially clover honey – helped support the survival of probiotics during intestinal digestion.
On the other hand, regarding mechanical digestion (mouth and stomach), there was no difference in their survival rate between the dairy/honey duos as well as the mixtures based on yogurt and sugar or water.
In a second timescientists conducted a clinical study. They recruited 66 healthy adults and asked them to consume two different products for two weeks each: clover honey yogurt and heat-treated pasteurized yogurt. Participants provided stool samples. They also completed questionnaires about their digestive health. They also completed tasks to assess their mood, cognitive abilities, and general well-being.
“Our results showed that combining honey with yogurt promoted the survival of yogurt probiotic bacteria in the gut, so the results of the laboratory study translated into real-world application in humans.”says Hannah Holscher.
In contrast, no changes in intestinal transit time, stool frequency, or measures of mood and cognition were noted.
Yogurt and honey: watch out for sugar
While these two studies show that mixing honey and yogurt is good for the survival of probiotics, and by domino effect digestive health, the expert still advocates moderation. She reminds us that honey ismainly composed of sugars. So it’s best not to go beyond a spoonful for a bowl of plain yogurt, she says.
Another tip from the specialist to boost intestinal health and the microbiome: integrate sources of fiber into the natural fermented dairy product such as berries, seeds or nuts, drizzled with a little honey.
