Hops is most commonly associated with beer as it has been part of the brewing process for over 800 years. Although many don’t really know what it is, and more importantly what it does. So, what is hops? 

What is Hops?

Hops are a flower that are picked from the hop tree. The tree is more formally known as Humulus Lupulus. The dark green flowers produce buds that are a lighter shade of green.

The population of healthy flavonoids & essential oils has led to plenty of research into the potential benefits. Some of these popular potential benefits include calming anxiety, improving sleep, battling inflammation & some cancer mitigating properties.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION & STUDIES LINKED IN THIS ARTICLE SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR MEDICAL ADVICE OR AS SUGGESTED TREATMENT OF ANY ILLNESS. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR FOR CLEAR DIRECTION ON TREATMENT FOR ANY ILLNESS OR HEALTH DISCOMFORT.

DRINKING MORE BEER WILL NOT PREVENT ILLNESS.

Where is Hops from?

It was historically grown in Germany, England & other parts of mainland Europe as it became a popular brewing agent for beer. The tree generally thrives in most climates, so has become popular in modern cultivation in Europe, USA & China.

Uses

The most popular use of Hops is being a brewing agent for beer. It’s bitter taste has made it a popular addition for flavouring & stability, although it does not give the psychoactive effects that alcohol does. Studies have been carried out on the potential benefits of hops using non-alcoholic beer.

Despite it’s popular use in beer, the potential health supporting properties of Hops has given rise to it’s presence for uses too. Some of the most common are herbal teas, soft drinks, herbal medicine & supplements.

Before we continue... fancy a free pouch or a discount?

Sign up below & try your luck with our wheel our fortune. Win a free pouch, up to 25% discount & free nutrition & health advice with our weekly newsletter!

Hint: You can't lose!

What are the benefits of Hops?

Throughout the research that has been carried out for this plant. The two undisputed & most common researched benefits are:

• Calming anxiety & stress
• Improving sleep

Many studies have been carried out to test Hops for depression & anxiety, with varying results. One promising study on the effects of hops on young adults found that it significantly improved symptoms of anxiety & depression.

Combined with Valerian, Hops is also regularly used as a herbal sleeping aid. Studies have found positive results when treating for mild insomnia. Although more conclusive evidence is still needed.

Research has also suggested that the flavonoids in Hops produce a wide range of bioactivity in the human body. Some of this bioactivity is suggested to provide therapeutic properties that may be estrogenic, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.

Nutritional properties

It’s most notably high in the below vitamins:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B6

Vitamin C plays critical for the maintenance of healthy bones & skin.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to aid immune function.

B6 can be important for creation of red blood cells & mood regulation. Research suggests that it plays a big part in neurological processes that regulate emotions.

Use in every-day life

Without drinking loads of alcoholic beer, adding Hops to your daily routine may play a key role in your wellbeing.

To make this a little easier, we’ve added Hops, along with other high quality ingredients like Ashwagandha, Reishi, Lions Mane & more to our Calming Cocoa blend. 

Try mixing our Calming Cocoa with hot milk or hot water to unwind after a long day.

Join the Nutrifize community

Want exclusive access to more Knowledge with Nutrifize? Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter using the signup form below for exclusive member discounts, giveaways, recipes, health tips, nutrition tips & more!

Do you have any questions? Feel free to send us your queries via the contact page & we'll aim to get back to you with 48 hours. Alternatively check out our FAQ's, we may have answered your question already!