Prebiotics, probiotics, it can all get a bit confusing. They are what some refer to as the two P's. These are components of food that play a crucial role for improving gut health. Probiotics are live microorganisms found in bacteria, yeast or fungi. Health experts refer to them as “good bacteria.” For the good bacteria to survive they need to be fed with “prebiotic” foods.  Watch this video, “Prebiotics: Tending Our Inner Garden.” Michael Greger MD, makes this complicated story both simple and fascinating.

My Notes:

Bifidobacteria are one of the major genera of bacteria that make up our colon flora or gut microbiota. This is a complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract or GI. Bifidobacteria are part of a group of bacteria considered important for the good health of the GI tract.

One way to increase the numbers of bifidobacteria in the GI tract is by adding prebiotics into the diet.  A prebiotic is basically a non-digestible dietary supplement. It's something that modifies the balance of the intestinal microflora. The way it does this is by stimulating the growth and/or activity of the beneficial organisms. At the same time, it suppresses any potentially harmful bacteria that may be present.

How Honey Helps

Honey contains a variety of oligosaccharides varying in their degree of polymerization.  Oligosaccharides are any carbohydrate of three to six units of simple sugars (monosaccharides). Oligosaccharides that are resistant to digestion are another form of dietary fiber. They can contribute towards a healthy digestive system. The unique composition of honey makes it useful in this area. It can enhance the growth, activity and viability of bifidobacteria in milk and fermented dairy products.

Honey enhances the growth, activity and viability of commercial strains of bifidobacteria. This was when it was used in the manufacture of fermented dairy products. However, this effect was strain-specific. The influence of honey on the development and activity of intestinal Bifidobacterium was like that of commercial oligosaccharides.

You can download or read the entire report: The Effect of Honey on the Growth of Bifidobacteria
Summary of a research project funded by the National Honey Board and conducted at Michigan State University | Investigator:  Z. Ustunol, Ph.D.

Summary

This research provides promising results on the growth-promoting and prebiotic activity of honey on bifidobacteria.