Noni is a tiny oval-shaped greenish-yellow fruit, that carries a distinct pungent odour and bitter taste, thereby often being dubbed as cheese fruit or vomit fruit. It is also known commonly in English as Indian mulberry, great morinda and beach mulberry. However, the brilliant health benefits it confers more than make up for its foul smell and unpleasant flavour, with this small tropical bounty remarkably bolstering energy levels, metabolism, immunity, enriching skin texture and even helping mitigate joint pain in arthritis.
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No wonder then that the raw and ripened produce are utilised widely all over the world to make a popular packaged bottled beverage called noni juice. This health drink comprises predominantly noni fruit residues, mixed with slight amounts of orange, blueberry or grape extracts, to infuse a sweet to sour citrus essence and mask the original disgusting smell and taste of noni. Drinking a small glass of this juice as part of the regular diet delivers excellent advantages for slowing down skin ageing, detoxifying the body, besides lowering cholesterol levels.
Also Check Out: 5 Nourishing Leaf Juices That Nurture Physical And Mental Wellbeing – Infographic
The Morinda Citrifolia Plant:
Noni is obtained from Morinda citrifolia, an evergreen tree native to warm regions in forests, shores of Southeast Asia, Pacific islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, Polynesia, as well as Australia. This plant tolerates a host of weather conditions and geographic terrains, thriving in drought situations, saline soil areas, valleys of volcanic origin, coastal regions with massive lava content, atolls i.e. coral reefs and rocky locales with limestone deposits. For this reason, noni is also termed as “starvation fruit” since it was consumed by local people in the Polynesian islands in times of famine and poor agricultural harvest.
The Morinda tree sprouts up to a height of 9 meters or 30 feet, with big, dark green, glistening leaves that bear noticeable veinous patterns. Flowers and fruits of noni grow throughout the year, with noni fruits being elliptical in shape and multiple fruits i.e. developing as clusters of fruits from floral buds or inflorescence. They are rather small in size, only 10 – 18 centimetres wide, with numerous seeds, showcasing a green outer skin when raw and turning yellow to pale white upon maturing. Although they emanate a repulsive odour and carry an inherent bad taste, noni fruits encompass a plethora of essential nutrients and offer a multitude of health merits.
Nutrition Content In Noni:
The minuscule noni fruit is rich in vitamin C, biotin, folate, vitamin E and plant-based flavonoids, organic acids with antioxidant properties. These beneficial components aid in building a powerful defence mechanism to keep disease at bay, revitalising skin, resolving dandruff in hair, scalp, aside from ensuring healthy red blood cell synthesis and circulation. Noni abounds in the key minerals of magnesium, calcium, potassium, which support robust bones, joints and regulate blood pressure to avert hypertension, uplift heart health. Additionally, noni is also low on fat, inherently high in water content, to promote weight loss.
Also Read: Calcium: Functions, Food Sources, Supplements, Deficiencies And Toxicity
Superb Wellness Incentives Of Indian Mulberry Fruit And Noni Juice:
Fosters Healthy Metabolism
Noni fruits are low on calories but possess a treasure trove of phytonutrients – plant-based chemicals, that display remarkable antioxidant traits. These help preserve optimal metabolism, by converting food to energy for various biochemical reactions in the body, besides eliminating detrimental free radicals and protecting healthy cells from oxidation and damage. Eating a small portion of noni fruits or drinking the juice before an arduous workout supplies ample stamina, increases energy levels, shields muscle cells from wear and tear and improves exercise performance.
Alleviates Joint Pain
Noni juice works wonders in mollifying severe joint pain in debilitating conditions of rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoporosis. Consuming one to two glasses of noni juice daily delivers marvellous anti-inflammatory qualities, for increasing flexibility of connective tissues, banishing stiffness in bones, joints and pacifying swelling, pain. Moreover, noni juice concentrates and even dried powder extracts of noni fruit mixed in warm water are fantastic natural drinks to ease rigidity in joints and fortify muscles, bones, to lower the intensity and occurrence of painful instances in arthritis.
Augments Heart Functions
Being loaded with potassium, noni juice is a restorative drink to lower high blood pressure, reduce symptoms of hypertension, maintain electrolyte balance and conserve healthy blood vessels and circulation in the body. The wealth of antioxidants, polyphenols in noni juice also significantly lower bad LDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein levels involved in inflammation processes, while raising good HDL cholesterol concentrations, to avert the risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and other cardiac ailments.
Uplifts Immune System
A powerhouse of vitamin C, noni fruits and noni juice offer tremendous quantities of the pivotal nutrient for promoting immunity. This assists in preventing frequent instances of fever, cough, cold as well as seasonal infections, chronic illnesses of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, respiratory anomalies of the lungs. Noni is packed with carotenoid antioxidants as well, which scavenge harmful free radicals from the system, to augment physical fitness, mental wellness and overall health.
Supplies Healthy Skin And Hair
Bestowed with vitamin C, biotin or vitamin B7, trace minerals of zinc, copper, selenium, phytonutrients, noni juice is an ultimate organic solution for rejuvenating skin texture and enhancing hair growth. These valuable nutrients, along with a host of antioxidant and antimicrobial elements in noni fruit, juice, detoxify the body from within, flush out toxins, boost collagen synthesis to reverse the age clock, heal acne, scars and immensely enrich skin complexion. Moreover, the antimicrobial characteristics in noni juice and fruit powder derivates when applied topically soothe irritation, itching, dandruff, flaking to supply a clean scalp and strong, thick, silky hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you consume Noni?
Noni can be consumed in various forms, including juice, capsules, or as a powder. Some people also use noni fruit in smoothies or teas for added health benefits.
Can noni help with specific health conditions?
Noni is believed to have potential benefits for various health conditions, including arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and skin problems. However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for these specific purposes. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional before using noni for medicinal purposes.
Can Noni help with weight loss?
While noni may support overall health and well-being, there's limited scientific evidence to suggest it aids in weight loss directly. However, its high nutrient content and potential to boost metabolism may indirectly support weight management combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Is noni effective for improving skin health?
Noni is often used in skincare products due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles, and promote a youthful appearance. It is believed to nourish the skin from within and protect against damage caused by environmental factors.
Are there any side effects of consuming noni?
Some individuals may experience digestive discomforts, such as nausea or diarrhoea when consuming noni juice or supplements. Additionally, noni may interact with certain medications, so it's essential to consult a healthcare professional before adding it to your routine, especially if you're on prescription medications.
References:
1. The Potential Health Benefits of Noni Juice: A Review of Human Intervention Studies
Authors: Brett J. West,1,* Shixin Deng,1 Fumiyuki Isami,2 Akemi Uwaya,2 and Claude Jarakae Jensen1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5920423/
2. Health Benefits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni): A Review:
July 2016Pharmacognosy Journal 8(4):321-334
July 20168(4):321-334
DOI:10.5530/pj.2016.4.4
Authors: Mohammad Ali, Mruthunjaya Kenganora and Santhepete Nanjundaiah Manjula
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305743431_Health_Benefits_of_Morinda_citrifolia_Noni_A_Review
