Adding honey to yogurt—a known probiotic, full of live microorganisms like bacteria and yeast—helps them survive longer in your gut, aiding the immune system. Published earlier this year, a study found that clover honey in yogurt best preserved probiotic survival during a simulated digestive process compared to other varieties.

“This is not a new food pairing; it’s quite common. But what I found interesting was that there may be some functional benefit to putting these foods together,” said Dr. Hannah Holscher, associate professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and senior author of the study.

Why is honey essential for boosting probiotics?,

According to experts, healthy gut bacteria help protect your body from certain harmful bacteria like salmonella. During the process of digestion – digestive enzymes, the acid in your stomach and the bile secreted by the intestines play a vital role in protecting you from large amounts of microbes that can thrive in the intestines, create toxins and cause foodborne illness.

Researchers say that many of the good bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt are destroyed during digestion, however, if you add a teaspoon of honey to it, most of the probiotic bacteria survive this process. However, you can still get the benefits of yogurt without adding honey.

Additionally, people who regularly consume fermented foods like yogurt don’t have to worry about losing good bacteria in the digestive process.

How much honey should be used?

Apart from probiotics, yogurt is also rich in calcium, protein, phosphorus and B vitamins – all of which are great for your heart health, weight loss, skin and even blood sugar levels. According to studies, yogurt consumption also prevents osteoporosis and diabetes.

So, if you want the health benefits of yogurt but don’t like its taste – try mixing it with a little amount of honey along with fruits and nuts to enhance the taste as well as its benefits.

However, since honey also contains added sugar, according to dietary guidelines, it should make up less than 10 percent of the total daily calorie intake. One tablespoon of honey contains about 64 calories – most of which is sugar.

What are the possible side effects of adding honey to yogurt?

Since honey is high in sugar, consuming it in excess can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of heart disease. Many people are also allergic to honey and should consume it in limited quantities.

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