Hops Used in Beer Show Fat-Burning Potential

When you think of weight loss do you think of drinking beer? This study suggests that the hops used in beer contain certain ‘fat-burning’ properties. The bitterness we taste in beer comes from a progressive breakdown of hops during the brewing and aging cycles. The complex compounds are known as (MHBA) matured hop bitter acids and when isolated they show promise for helping with diabetes and obesity.

Via Examine.com:

This study investigated the effect of consuming matured hop extract for 12 weeks and whether it would reduce body fat in otherwise healthy overweight participants. After 12 weeks of MHE treatment, visceral fat area was significantly reduced when compared to the placebo group.

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This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study showed that continual consumption of a bitter extract from the hop plant reduced body fat in healthy overweight individuals. Although the reductions in BMI, body weight and waist circumferences in the active group were only significant when compared to the baseline, the loss of visceral and subcutaneous fat from the abdominal area was significant when compared to the placebo group. With no obvious lifestyle changes other than the daily consumption of 35 milligrams of MHBA, this research suggests that a hop extract safely reduces abdominal fat in overweight individuals.

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P.s. Before you reach for that extra pint of beer, remember, this study looked at the fat-burning potential of the compound isolated hops (found in beer).