For a long time, we have been accustomed to sweetening yogurt with sugar. However, new research suggests that a spoonful of honey may be more beneficial.
Recent studies show that adding one or two tablespoons of honey to a serving of unsweetened yogurt can provide surprising benefits.
This approach enhances the probiotic power of yogurt by helping beneficial bacteria from the yogurt survive throughout their journey in our digestive system.
Mixing honey into yogurt can yield surprising results (Photo: Getty).
Nutrition scientist Hannah Holscher, co-author of the study at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, noted that this dietary practice is quite popular in Mediterranean regions. However, the reasons for its effectiveness and its impacts have not been clearly identified.
It is known that diets in these regions have long been praised for their health benefits, including reliance on “healthy” fats from fish, olive oil, and nuts, while consuming less red meat.
Based on existing knowledge about yogurt and honey, Holscher and her colleagues conducted experiments to investigate how four types of honey affect the survival of a beneficial bacteria, scientifically known as Bifidobacterium animalis, found in yogurt.
Initially, they mixed yogurt infused with bacteria into honey and then allowed the bacteria to grow when exposed to a solution simulating one of many fluids they might encounter in our intestines, including saliva, stomach acid, bile, and enzymes.
The results quickly indicated that yogurt mixed with honey indeed supports the survival of beneficial bacteria more effectively.
In contrast, tests involving yogurt mixed with sugar or water did not yield this result.
“Adding a little honey to unsweetened yogurt is a wonderful culinary combination that is worth considering for your menu,” the research team stated.
Further in-depth studies will be conducted to explore the changes in timing and frequency of bacteria as they pass through the intestines and stomach, as well as to assess the overall health of individuals following this method.
