Adding honey to yogurt not only makes your breakfast sweeter but also helps support the probiotics in yogurt, which are good for your digestive health.
This finding comes from two new studies by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“We were curious about how the popular Mediterranean combo of yogurt and honey affects gut health,” said Hannah Holscher, a food science professor at Illinois.
Holscher co-authored the studies, both published in The Journal of Nutrition.
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, contains probiotics like Bifidobacterium animalis. These probiotics can improve digestion, promote regular bowel movements, and even boost mood and brain function.
“Our digestive enzymes break down food and help absorb nutrients but can also reduce the number of beneficial bacteria,” Holscher explained. “We wanted to see if honey could help these good bacteria survive the digestion process.”
In the first study, titled “Honey Varietals Differentially Impact Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Survivability in Yogurt through Simulated In Vitro Digestion,” researchers tested four types of honey (alfalfa, buckwheat, clover, and orange blossom) with yogurt during simulated digestion.
They found that while all types of honey were similar in the early stages of digestion, clover honey helped the probiotics survive better in the intestines.
The second study, “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,” involved 66 healthy adults. Participants ate yogurt with clover honey and pasteurized yogurt for two weeks each.
They provided stool samples and answered questions about their bowel movements, mood, and overall well-being.
“Our results showed that honey helps probiotics survive in the gut,” Holscher said. However, there were no changes in bowel movement frequency or mood because the participants were already healthy.
A follow-up study with 36 participants who ate yogurt with sugar showed that honey was better at preserving probiotics than sugar, but it didn’t affect health measures.
“One tablespoon of honey in yogurt supports probiotic survival. Just remember that honey is still an added sugar, so use it in moderation,” Holscher advised. “Adding a bit of honey to plain yogurt is a tasty and beneficial addition to your diet.”
For a nutritious twist, try a yogurt parfait with berries, seeds, or nuts, and drizzle a little honey on top. This can add fiber to your diet and further support gut health.
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