HOPS ARE GOOD FOR YOU: 5 WAYS THEY HELP YOUR BODY
Hops are good for you. Hops are not just for beer. They can help your body in many ways. Let’s see why hops are so good.
Table of Contents
What Are Hops?
Hops are plants. They grow on vines. Hops have been used for a long time. People use hops to make beer taste good. But hops can do more than make beer taste good.
Hops are from a plant called Humulus lupulus. That is the science name for hops. Hops have been used for more than 1,000 years! [^1]
Hops have good things in them:
- They have things called antioxidants
- They have terpenes (these make hops smell good)
- They have things that can help your hormones
5 Big Ways Hops Help Your Body
1. Hops Help You Sleep Better
Do you have a hard time going to sleep? Hops might help you! The good things in hops (like lupulone) can help your brain relax. This can help you fall asleep.
One study found that mice who got hops slept 70% better than mice who did not get hops. [^2] That’s a lot better!
You can try hops tea before bed. It might help you sleep.
2. Hops Make You Less Stressed
Feeling stressed? Hops might help you feel calm. Hops have good things in them that help your body relax. These good things are called linalool and citral.
Many people say they feel less worried when they use hops. This is why some people drink a beer to relax. But you don’t need to drink beer to get the good things from hops!
3. Hops Help With Hot Flashes
Some women get hot flashes. This happens when their bodies change. Hops can help with hot flashes.
A big study showed that 7 out of 10 women had less hot flashes when they took hops. [^3] The good things in hops (called phytoestrogens) help the body feel more normal.
But be careful! If you have some health problems, you should talk to a doctor before you use hops.
4. Hops Have Lots of Antioxidants
Hops have a very strong antioxidant called xanthohumol. This is a big word! But it means hops can help keep your body strong.
Did you know? This antioxidant in hops is 10 times stronger than the good things in green tea! [^4]
Antioxidants help fight bad things in your body that can make you sick. This is why many people think hops are so good for you!
5. Hops Might Help Your Heart
Your heart is very important. Some studies show that hops might help keep your heart healthy.
In one study with animals, hops made the bad cholesterol (that’s the LDL kind) go down by 40%! [^5] That’s a lot! Lower bad cholesterol is good for your heart.
But we need more studies to know for sure how much hops can help your heart.
How to Use Hops Safely
You can use hops in many ways. But you need to be safe.
Safe ways to use hops:
- Drink hops tea
- Take hops pills
- Use hops oil
Be careful if:
- You are allergic to plants
- You take medicine to help you sleep
- You have problems with your hormones
And very important: NEVER give hops to dogs! Hops are very bad for dogs. They can make dogs very sick or even die. [^6]
Ways to Use Hops (Not Just in Beer!)
You don’t need to drink beer to get good things from hops. Here are some other ways:
| Way to Use Hops | How It Helps | How to Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Hops Tea | Helps you sleep | Put dried hops in hot water for 10 minutes |
| Hops Bath | Makes skin feel good | Put hops in your bath water |
| Hops Pillow | Helps you sleep | Put dried hops in a small pillow case |
| Hops Pills | Many health benefits | Take pills from the store (ask doctor how many) |
| Hops Water | Less strong than tea | Put a few hops in cold water |
Did you know that more people are buying drinks with hops in them? Not just beer! The hops business will grow to almost $47 billion by 2030. [^7] More people want the good things from hops!
Fun Facts About Hops
Hops have been used for a very long time. Here are some fun things about hops:
- Hops were first used in beer more than 1,000 years ago
- Hops were used to help people sleep long before they were used in beer
- Hops can grow up to 1 foot in just one day! That’s very fast!
- Hops are in the same plant family as marijuana, but hops don’t make you high
- Most hops used in the USA come from Washington state
What People Ask About Hops
Can hops help you sleep?
Yes! Hops have things in them that help your brain relax. Many people drink hops tea before bed to help them sleep better.
Are hops safe for dogs?
NO! Hops are very bad for dogs. Keep all hops away from dogs. If your dog eats hops, call the vet right away!
Do hops have a lot of calories?
No, hops don’t have many calories. But beer has calories because it has alcohol and other things in it. Hops tea has almost no calories.
Can kids use hops?
Most of the time, kids should not use hops. Ask a doctor first. There are better ways to help kids with sleep and other things.
More Good Things in Your Bar
If you like the health benefits of hops, you might also like these other good things for your bar:
- Custom Bar Runners that keep your bar clean and look nice
- Custom Coasters to put your drinks on (and they help your tables!)
- Rubber Bar Mat to catch spills and keep your bar looking good
Try Hops Today!
Now you know why hops are good for you! Hops can help you sleep better, feel less stressed, and might even help your heart. The antioxidants in hops are very strong and can help your body.
You can try hops in many ways. Hops tea is a good way to start. Just remember to be safe and talk to a doctor if you have health problems.
Hops have been used for more than 1,000 years for health. Now you can try them too!
[^1]: National Geographic, information about historical hop use in brewing. [^2]: Phytotherapy Research (2011), study on hops and sleep quality in mice. [^3]: Journal of Women’s Health (2018), study on hops and menopausal symptoms. [^4]: National Institutes of Health (2020), comparison of hop antioxidants to green tea. [^5]: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2019), animal study on hops and cholesterol. [^6]: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, warning about hops toxicity in dogs. [^7]: Grand View Research (2023), projection of global hops market growth.
