Hops!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

For those of you who enjoy an adult beverage that contains hops, listen up! A recent study conducted at the University of Milano-Bicocca tested four common varieties of hop flower extracts found in beer to see how well they could help prevent brain protein clumping. Surprise, the testing found that hops were able to block amyloid beta proteins from clumping which is known to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease! 

It is common knowledge that alcohol consumption has increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic and all joking aside, has been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers say hops do help lessen the risk of neurodegenerative diseases but where do we get hops without the alcohol? That’s where it gets tricky. Hops are very bitter tasting; thus they are used to lessen the sweetness of beer AND cooking with hops has become quite trendy and an excellent way to satisfy a “hops” craving without the alcohol. Hops can be added to brewed beverages, brownies, bruschetta, pizza, mustard, etc.  

Hops have also been used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, menopause symptoms, etc., however there is no scientific evidence to support these uses. Hops can cause dizziness and sleepiness and can mimic estrogen and should be used with caution in people with conditions sensitive to estrogen (i.e., breast cancers and endometriosis). Maybe we just stay the course and have our favorite brew in moderation. Stay well and stay informed! 

For more information on hops:

Hops – Uses, Side Effects, and More