Hops (Humulus lupulus) are the flowering cones of the hop plant, best known for giving beer its distinctive bitter flavour and aroma.
Although hops are commonly associated with brewing, they have been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries and contain a range of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, including bitter acids and polyphenols, that have attracted scientific interest.12
Potential Health Benefits of Hops
1. May help support weight management
One of the most well-researched health benefits of hops is their potential role in appetite regulation.
Clinical studies using a bitter hops extract have shown that consuming the extract before meals can significantly reduce feelings of hunger and decrease energy intake compared with a placebo.3
Researchers believe the bitter compounds in hops activate bitter taste receptors in the gut, stimulating the release of appetite-regulating hormones including GLP-1, CCK and peptide YY, which help promote feelings of fullness.3
Additional human studies have also reported reductions in body weight, body fat and abdominal fat following supplementation with matured hop bitter acids, although more long-term research is still needed.453
Summary
Bitter compounds found in hops may help regulate appetite and support healthy weight management.
2. May help relieve menopause symptoms
Menopause commonly causes symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood changes and vaginal dryness due to declining oestrogen levels.6
Hops naturally contain phytoestrogens, particularly 8-prenylnaringenin, one of the most potent plant-derived phytoestrogens identified to date. Several small clinical studies suggest hops extracts may help reduce menopausal symptoms, although larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.782
Summary
Early research suggests hops extracts may help relieve some menopause symptoms, although further high-quality research is needed.
3. May support cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide.9
Laboratory and small human studies suggest compounds found in hops may improve blood vessel function by supporting healthy endothelial function and vascular relaxation. However, more clinical studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.1011
Summary
Emerging research suggests hops may support healthy blood vessel function, although evidence in humans remains limited.
4. May support mood and wellbeing
Several compounds found in hops, including humulones and lupulones, have demonstrated calming properties in laboratory and animal studies.2
Small human studies have also found that hops supplementation may improve feelings of stress, anxiety and mild depressive symptoms compared with placebo, although larger clinical trials are needed.1213
Summary
Early research suggests hops may support mood and relaxation, but more research is required.
5. May help reduce inflammation
Inflammation is a normal part of the body's immune response. However, persistent low-grade inflammation has been linked with chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.14
Hops are rich in polyphenols and bitter acids that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory and animal studies by reducing inflammatory signalling molecules such as TNF-α and IL-6.102
While these findings are encouraging, additional human clinical trials are needed to determine whether these effects translate into meaningful health benefits.
Summary
Hops contain naturally occurring compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, although much of the current evidence comes from laboratory and animal research.
