Hear me out… I’m not telling you to go be a raging alcoholic, but there may be some health benefits you weren’t aware of when it comes to hops.
Hops is essentially the flowering cones of the hop plant and are best known for giving beer its bitter flavor (probably a reason I don’t like beer). But beyond your pint glass, they have a long history of being used in herbal medicine as a natural aid for relaxation and sleep.
Hops are rich in flavonoids and essential oils, and they may offer calming, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects that support overall wellness. Today, researchers are exploring their potential benefits for sleep, stress, and even cardiovascular health (heck, we already know the benefits of wine).
If you find yourself struggling to unwind at night, hops may be worth a closer look. This underrated plant could be a gentle, natural way to promote restful sleep and help your body relax.
In this article, we are going to dive deeper into hops and get a better understanding of the potential health benefits.
But to preface this, you still need to drink responsibly and be aware of the empty calories you’re going to be consuming and the effects those may have on your health and well-being. Interestingly enough, nonalcoholic beer is being used in many of the studies with some shocking benefits and results.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new supplements into your current regimen.
What Are Hops?
Hops, or Humulus lupulus, is a perennial vine grown for its female flower cones, which are widely used as a bittering agent in beer.
Beyond brewing, hops have a long history in herbal medicine for issues like insomnia, anxiety, mood disorders, and digestive problems, although scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited.
Research suggests hops may have sedative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, digestive, diuretic, and estrogen-like effects. These benefits come from its bioactive compounds, including lupulin, flavonoids like xanthohumol, bitter resins, phenolic acids, volatile oils, and tannins.
While its primary role remains in brewing, hops continue to be studied for its medicinal potential and is often combined with herbs like valerian, passionflower, and chamomile as a mild sleep aid.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Hops?
Below are some of the health benefits of hops you should be aware of if you enjoy drinking things like beer.
1. Sleep disorders
The compounds in hops are believed to have mild sedative effects that may be useful in medicine.
A few small studies have tested hops on sleep-wake cycles using nonalcoholic beer. In one study, 17 night-shift nurses drank hop-containing nonalcoholic beer at dinner for two weeks. Sleep trackers showed that they fell asleep slightly faster and reported lower anxiety.
A 2014 study with 30 college students found similar results. After two weeks of drinking nonalcoholic beer with dinner, students reported better sleep quality, including shorter time to fall asleep, compared with the week before.
Hops is also combined with herbs like valerian and passionflower for insomnia. In one trial, a pill containing these herbs was compared to the prescription sleep aid Ambien.
2. It may help you lose weight
Recent research suggests that hops may help in weight loss.
In one study, 30 adults took a bitter hops-based supplement twice daily for three weeks. Compared with a placebo, the supplement significantly reduced hunger.
Researchers believe this effect occurred because hops encouraged the body to produce appetite-regulating hormones such as GLP-1, CCK, and PYY.
Other studies also indicate that hops may help reduce body fat, particularly around the abdomen.
3. Hot flashes
The flavonoid 8-prenylnaringenin in hops is a phytoestrogen, a plant compound that mimics estrogen in the body. It may help increase estrogenic activity and reduce symptoms of estrogen deficiency, particularly during menopause.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause, and research suggests hops may help ease them. Both animal and human studies have shown improvements in hot flashes when hop supplements were used compared to a placebo.
4. It may help relieve menopause symptoms
Menopause is a natural stage of life that usually occurs in the late 40s or early 50s. During this time, many women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood swings, thinning skin, hair loss, and lower libido.
Research suggests that hops may help ease several of these symptoms. Scientists believe this benefit comes from phytoestrogens, plant compounds in hops that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.
5. Cardiovascular health
Xanthohumol, a flavonoid found in hops, may help relax blood vessels and improve circulation.
In one animal study, xanthohumol extracted from hops reduced calcification in arteries and veins. Researchers suggest that this effect may help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
6. Supports cancer prevention
Hops contain polyphenols and bioactive compounds such as xanthohumol that may help prevent or slow the growth of certain cancers, including colon, pancreatic, thyroid, cervical, ovarian, head and neck, skin (melanoma), and leukemia.
Xanthohumol appears to trigger cancer cell death and block the spread of these cells to other parts of the body.
7. It helps with depression
Hops are being explored as a possible treatment for depression and other mood disorders.
In a small 2017 clinical trial, 36 college students with mild depression were given either 400 milligrams of a hops supplement or a placebo for four weeks. Those who took the hops supplement reported lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression compared to the placebo group.
Author Bio:
Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is the owner of Weik Fitness. He is a globally recognized and prolific writer. With a passion for creating health and fitness content, Matt’s work has been featured on thousands of websites, over 100 magazines, and he has authored more than 25 published books.
