In the past, the indigenous people of Australia used the Noni fruit during the dry season, which ran from May to August. It has been widely used in many health and therapeutic uses.

What is noni fruit?

Noni is a common name for the Morinda citroifolia tree, which ranges in size from 3 to 10 meters. This tree is found in Australia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and India. Although it is edible, many have described its taste as bad-tasting cheese. The leaves of this fruit are eaten raw and cooked in countries such as Thailand and Java.

The people of the French Polynesian Islands have used Noni in folk medicine for over 2,000 years. It was treating many health problems, such as infections, constipation, and arthritis. Today, this fruit is consumed as a juice that is full of antioxidants, which in turn provides many health benefits.

Nutritional value

100 grams of noni fruit contains:

• Water: 95.67
• Calories: 15.3
• Protein: 0.43 grams.
• Fat: 0.1 grams.
• Carbohydrates: 3.4 grams.
• Fiber: 0.2 grams.
• Sugar: 1.49 grams.
• Fructose: 0.32 grams.
• Vitamin C: 37.39%.
• Calcium: 1.01%.

Benefits of Noni fruit

Among its most famous benefits are:

1- Reduces cell damage caused by smoking

Exposure to tobacco smoke leads to the production of dangerously large amounts of free radicals, which can cause damage to cells, which in turn leads to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to many health diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

In one study, scientists gave heavy smokers 118 ml of noni or morinzi juice. After a month, they saw a reduction of up to 30% in two common types of free radicals.

Since tobacco smoke is known to cause cancer, noni juice may reduce levels of chemicals in the smoke that cause cancer. It is worth noting that this juice does not completely prevent the negative effects of smoking on health, and it cannot be considered a substitute for quitting smoking.

2- Supports heart health in smokers and non-smokers

Drinking noni juice may help support heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation caused by smoking. Although cholesterol performs many important functions in the body, some excess types may increase the risk of heart disease.

Numerous studies have found that drinking 188 ml of noni juice daily for a month can reduce levels of harmful cholesterol and the inflammatory blood marker C-reactive protein. The antioxidants in noni juice are believed to be able to reduce high cholesterol levels caused by smoking.

3- It improves stamina during exercise

Noni juice is believed to increase a person’s endurance to physical activity. Evidence for this is that in the past, the inhabitants of the Pacific islands ate this fruit before embarking on long hunting trips. In a 3-week study of long-distance runners, consuming 100ml of Noni juice twice a day increased their endurance of fatigue by up to 20%.

It is worth noting that it is possible to increase endurance as a result of the antioxidants in noni juice, which reduce muscle tissue damage that may occur during exercise.

4- Relieves pain in arthritis patients

Since ancient times, Noni fruit has been used to treat pain. its ability to mitigate it. Nowadays, one month-long study found that people with degenerative arthritis in the spine drank about 15ml of noni juice twice a day. It resulted in complete relief of neck pain in 60% of the subjects participating in the study.

Since joint pain is associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, noni juice may help relieve pain by reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals.

5- It improves the health of the immune system

Noni juice contains vitamin C, so drinking 100 ml of it contains 33% of the recommended dose of this vitamin. Vitamin C supports the immune system by protecting the body’s cells from free radical damage and toxins in the environment.

6- Other benefits

• cancer: Some research indicates that eating about 6 to 8 grams of noni fruit on a daily basis reduces pain and stress in cancer patients.
• Hearing disability: Other studies indicate that drinking half a cup daily for 3 months of this juice improves the sense of hearing in women who suffer from disability or hearing problems.
• hypertension: Drinking half a cup daily for a month of Noni juice can lower high blood pressure.
• Skin infection: When an ointment containing the stem of noni fruit is applied to the skin area affected by Leishmania lesions, it reduces the symptoms of this condition.

Ways to eat noni fruit

You can eat noni fruit as a fruit on a piece or as a juice:

1- Eat the whole noni fruit

First, the fruit must be fresh enough. Wash the noni, peel off the skin, and eat the translucent flesh inside, either on its own or with a pinch of salt sprinkled on top, as most Aborigines and Southeast Asians do. And if you don’t like its flavor, you can add the noni to another type of fruit and drink them as a juice.

2- Eat noni fruit as a juice

The method of consuming noni fruit as juice is the most common method. You can find it ready-made in stores and supermarkets, or you can make it yourself at home by peeling it, cutting it into small pieces, putting it in a blender, and beating it until smooth, and then filtering it.

The appropriate dose of noni fruit

The appropriate dose of this fruit depends on several factors, such as age, general health, and many others. There are several studies indicating that consuming about 750 grams of noni juice per day is safe for healthy people.

Noni fruit side effects

If taken orally, noni fruit is safe for most people. But you should be careful, as it can cause some stomach discomfort if it is taken in a dried form. But if this fruit is used as an ointment, it is completely safe on the skin.

Be careful of morinzi juice. Because of the variety of brands that produce this type, some of them may contain a high concentration of sugar. Since Noni juice (100ml) alone contains 8g of sugar, if it is sweetened it may increase the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hence, it is best to eat it in moderation and read the label on noni products.

People with kidney failure or chronic kidney disease should avoid taking noni. Because it contains a large proportion of potassium. Also, if you are taking medications, such as high blood pressure medications, or medications to slow blood clotting continuously, the juice can interact with them and cause health problems. So you should consult a doctor first.