Delicious, it can help with digestive problems.
Very popular as a dessert, at breakfast or even as a snack, yogurt is a real health ally. These dairy products contain probiotics, including good bacteria called Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis). These are beneficial for digestive health because they regulate intestinal transit, boosting immunity and regulating stools. Probiotics can also alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain or even flatulence. According to American researchers, adding a simple ingredient to your yogurt could increase its benefits for your belly.
In a first study published in March 2024, scientists from the University of Illinois (United States) tested the effects of a certain ingredient on the viability of the bacteria B. animalis in yogurt. To do this, they simulated the digestion process by growing microbes in dishes with solutions that mimicked the composition of saliva, gastric acid, intestinal bile and enzymes. The results, published in the journal “The Journal of Nutrition”the mystery ingredient allowed the probiotics in the yogurt to survive during the digestion phase.
In a second study Published in August 2024 in the same journal, the researchers asked 66 healthy adults to consume two types of yogurt for two weeks each: a pasteurized, heat-treated yogurt and a yogurt containing the mystery ingredient. The subjects provided the team of scientists with stool samples and information about their bowel movements. In a final phase of the study, 37 participants consumed a third option: yogurt with sugar. After comparing the different results, it seems that the yogurt with the mystery ingredient preserved the most probiotics.
This sweet ingredient is none other than honey, a 100% natural food already known for its health benefits. “Our results showed that the combination of honey and yogurt promoted the survival of probiotic bacteria in the intestine”explains Professor Hannah Holscher, co-author of the study in a press release.
Honey contains natural prebiotics, including those called “oligosaccharides,” which feed probiotics and promote their growth and activity in the gut. It also has antimicrobial properties that can help the microbiota by preventing the growth of bad bacteria, while leaving good bacteria as B. animalis to develop. Finally, its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce digestive disorders. “Adding a little honey to unsweetened yogurt is a great culinary combination to incorporate into your menu rotation.”” concludes Professor Holscher.