If you enjoy a bowl of plain yogurt in the morning, adding a spoonful of honey is a delicious way to sweeten your favorite breakfast food. It also supports the probiotic cultures in the popular fermented dairy product, according to two new studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "We were interested in the culinary pairing of yogurt and honey, which is common in the Mediterranean diet, and how it impacts the gastrointestinal microbiome ," said Hannah Holscher, associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois.
She is a co-author of the two studies, which are both published in The Journal of Nutrition. Greek yogurt and other yogurts contain probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium animalis in addition to conventional yogurt starter cultures. Consumption of certain probiotics can promote digestive health and regular bowel movements, and it can have a positive effect on mood and cognition.
The enzymes in our mouth, stomach, and intestines help with digestion and facilitate nutrient absorption, but they also reduce the viability of microbes. That's great when it's pathogens but not necessarily when it comes to beneficial bacteria. We wanted to see if honey could help probiotic bacteria survive in the gut.
" Hannah Holscher, Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition In the first study, the researchers conducted a laboratory experi.