Humans have had their hands in the proverbial honey jar for millennia.

There’s just something about the sticky sweetness, wonderful golden color, and rich flavor that keeps us coming back for more. Honey’s health benefits have long been explored, with evidence of honey being used for therapeutic purposes in ancient Greece and ancient Egypt.

Even after thousands of years, we are still discovering ways honey can benefit humans. Scientists also continue to better understand how important a healthy gut microbiome is in preventing chronic diseases, promoting mental health and aiding in a healthy immune system.

These two topics coalesced recently as a pair of new studies offered evidence that clover honey, when added to yogurt, can help promote gut health.

So, how does it work?

When we eat yogurt, live probiotic cultures contained in the food undertake a treacherous journey as they weather the harsh environments of the mouth, stomach, and intestines. Many of these microscopic organisms will never reach their destination.

But researchers discovered that one to two teaspoons of clover honey, when added to a serving of yogurt, seemed to create a more hospitable environment for the probiotics, allowing more of them to make it safely to the gut.

The levels of enzymes, sugars, and antioxidants in clover honey seem to offer an added layer of protection for the probiotics. Researchers did point out that honey is an added sugar, so we should be mindful of how much of it we consume.

But all things considered, adding honey to a yogurt treat seems like a pretty sweet deal.