Studies show that honey increases the survival of probiotics in yogurt, confirming the beneficial Mediterranean eating habits, although it has no significant health effects in already healthy individuals.
New research from the University of Illinois shows that honey increases the survival of probiotic bacteria in yogurt during digestion, supporting gut health without affecting bowel frequency or mood in healthy adults. Adding honey to yogurt can be beneficial for a sugar-conscious diet.
If you enjoy plain yogurt for breakfast, try adding a spoonful of honey for a delicious touch of sweetness. According to two new studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this not only enhances the flavor, but also supports the probiotic culture in the yogurt.
“We were interested in the dietary pairing of yogurt and honey, which is common in the Mediterranean diet, and how it affects the gut microbiota,” said Hannah Holscher, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, part of the university. in Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois. She is a co-author of the two studies, both of which are published in The Journal of Nutrition.
Greek yogurt and other yogurts contain probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium animalis as well as traditional yogurt starter cultures. Consuming certain probiotics can promote digestive health and regular bowel movements, and it can have a positive effect on mood and cognition.
Study information
“The enzymes in the mouth, stomach and intestines help with digestion and facilitate the absorption of nutrients, but they also reduce the viability of microbes. It’s great when it comes to pathogens but not necessarily when it comes to beneficial bacteria,” Holscher said. “We wanted to see if honey could help probiotic bacteria survive in the gut.”
In the first study, the researchers conducted a laboratory experiment in which they tested the effects of four different types of honey (alfalfa, buckwheat, clover and orange blossom) on viability. B. animals in yogurt through simulated digestive processes. They grew microbes in petri dishes with solutions that mimicked the composition of saliva, stomach acidintestinal bile and enzymes.
For saliva and gastric fluid, there was no difference B. animals survival between any honey varieties and control treatments of yogurt mixed with sugar or water. However, yogurt with honey – especially the clover variety – helped support the survival of probiotics in the intestinal phase of digestion.
Next, the researchers wanted to test their results in a clinical trial. They recruited 66 healthy adults and asked them to consume two different foods for two weeks each – yogurt with clover honey and pasteurized, heat-treated yogurt. Participants provided stool samples and information about their stools. They also filled out questionnaires and completed tasks assessing their mood, intelligence and general well-being.
Implications and recommendations
“Our results showed that pairing honey with yogurt supported the survival of the yogurt’s probiotic bacteria in the gut, so the lab results translated into real-world applications in humans,” Holscher said.
However, there were no changes in bowel transit time, frequency of bowel movements, or any of the mood and cognitive measures. Holscher said this was likely because the participants were already healthy adults with regular bowel movements, so there wasn’t much room for improvement.
The researchers also conducted a smaller follow-up study with 36 participants who consumed a third food, yogurt with sugar. When the researchers compared the results of all three diseases, the combination of yogurt and honey preserved the most probiotics, but there was no effect on the health measures.
“We found that one tablespoon of honey in a serving of yogurt helps maintain probiotic survival. However, we must keep in mind that honey is an added sugar, and most Americans need to be aware of the amount of sugar in their diet to maintain a healthy body weight,” she said. “But adding a little honey to unsweetened yogurt is a good culinary pairing to incorporate into your menu.
You can also add toppings to make a yogurt parfait and support gut health and microbiome by adding more fiber to your diet. For example, you can add berries and seeds, or nuts, and drizzle a little honey on top, Holscher suggested.
References: “Honey vinegar has different effects on Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis survivability in Yogurt through simulated in vitro digestion” by David A Alvarado, Luis Alberto Ibarra-Sánchez, Annemarie R Mysonhimer, Tauseef A Khan, Rong Cao, Michael J Miller and Hannah D Holscher, 12 January 2024, The Journal of Nutrition.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.01.010
The research was supported in part by the National Honey Board.
“Honey added to yogurt with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 supports probiotic enrichment but does not reduce intestinal transit time in healthy adults: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial” by Annemarie R Mysonhimer, Marina D Brown, David A Alvarado, Eva Cornman, Myra Esmail , Tehila Abdiel, Karen Gutierrez, Jorge Vasquez, Corinne N Cannavale, Michael J Miller, Naiman A Khan, and Hannah D Holscher, June 1, 2024, The Journal of Nutrition.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.05.028
This work was supported by the National Honey Board and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project 1009249.
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