Hop extract

Where does it come from?

Hop extract is made from the same hop plant (Humulus lupulus) that is used to brew beer. This plant grows in Europe, Asia and North America and the extract comes from dried parts of the plant, which only occur in female plants. Incidentally, hops belong to the same family as marijuana plants.

What are the benefits of hop extract?

Although drinking beer will not make you lose fat, it is believed that hop extract has exactly this effect. It is also used as a calming and sleep-inducing supplement, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties. The following sections take a closer look at some of the benefits of hop extract.

Hop extract could prevent weight gain

A study conducted in Japan in 2005 showed that hop extract prevented weight gain in mice when they were fed a high-fat diet. Two groups of mice were fed either a standard diet or a high-fat diet containing a hop extract. Body development and tissue weight were measured at several time points during the study. The mice fed a high-fat diet in combination with a hop extract were able to reduce their body weight and improve their glucose tolerance. The scientists came to the conclusion that hop extract could also be helpful in humans when it comes to preventing diet-related obesity. Furthermore, hop extract is used as a diuretic and can therefore reduce water retention and a bloated appearance, which is associated with weight loss. In addition to this, it should be mentioned that hops can also act as an appetite stimulant.

Supporting sleep

Hops are traditionally used as a sedative to relieve restlessness and to aid sleep. Most sleep studies conducted with hops combined hops with valerian and showed that the combined intake, which usually consisted of 120 mg hops extract and 500 mg valerian extract, improved sleep quality and shortened the time it took to fall asleep. However, there are no studies that have looked at the effect of hops in isolation from valerian, so it is unclear whether hops are effective on their own as a sleep aid. In this context, it should be mentioned that studies show that the longer you sleep per night, the less weight you gain, with 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night being ideal. Using hops as a sleep aid could therefore have an additional positive side effect.

Hops could reduce joint swelling

A study published in the Journal of the International Society for Horticultural Science reports that various hop extracts and modified hop extracts are among the most effective anti-inflammatory agents. Although further research is needed, many experts claim that hop extracts are good joint support products and can be effective against pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Recommended intake

You could drink more beer to help you sleep, but if weight loss is the goal, this may not be the best recommendation. Alternatively, you can make a tea by steeping hops in boiling water. Taken in capsule form, the dosage used is in the range of 500mg to one gram of dried hop extract three times a day. For a liquid extract, the average dosage is 0.5 to 1 ml three times a day. When buying a hop extract, look for a product that lists isohumulone, the active fat-burning component, on the label.

Risks and side effects

Hops do not appear to have any serious side effects. You should not use hops and hop extracts if you are taking tranquilizers or suffering from depression, as hops can increase the symptoms of depression.