Noni fruit or Morinda citrifolia is one of the exotic fruit which is rich in nutrients and beneficial for health. This fruit is widely known in South East of Asia, Australia and Hawaii but not everyone like to consume this fruit due to the smell. Well, even before you smell it the look is not that fascinating to consume either with those tiny dots in all over the green peel. However, though it is not a favorite fruit to consume, traditionally people prefer to use noni fruit as medicine due to some properties contained. Perhaps, the old saying ‘don’t judge the book from its cover’ could be applied to this fruit because aside from the ugly look, noni fruit has a lot of properties that are beneficial for human health. That’s why the popularity of noni juice and noni supplement products are progressively increasing today.
Below are some simple explanation why noni fruit is beneficial fruit for human health:
Nutrients and Medical Substances found in Noni Fruit
| Nutrients and Chemical Compounds | ||
| Vitamins: | Vitamin B1 | Thiamine |
| Vitamin B2 | Riboflavin | |
| Vitamin B3 | Niacin | |
| Vitamin B5 | Pantothenic acid | |
| Vitamin B6 | ||
| Vitamin B12 | ||
| Vitamin C | ||
| Vitamin E | ||
| Folate | ||
| Beta-carotene | ||
| Minerals: | Calcium | |
| Potassium | ||
| Magnesium | ||
| Iron | ||
| Phosphorus | ||
| Natural Chemicals & Antioxidants: | Vanillin | |
| Quercetin | ||
| Pinoresinol | ||
| Proxeronine | ||
| Kaempferol | ||
| Isoscopoletin | ||
| Scopoletin | ||
| Triterpene | ||
| Saponin | ||
| Anthraquinones | ||
| Nitric oxide | ||
| Methyl acetyl | ||
| Caprylic acid | ||
| Flavonoid | ||
Health Benefits of Noni Fruit
- Relieve Headache
Noni fruit as home remedy to relieve headache has been used traditionally and widely among Asian people but even the recent studies found that analgesic found in noni fruit is high enough to reduce or even cure headache. Further studies even stated that the effectiveness of noni fruit in reducing headache is higher if compared to drugs like tramadol and hydrocortisone.
- Natural Booster for Immune System
There are two reasons why noni fruit is considered as excellent natural booster for immune system; first noni fruit is rich of vitamin C which content is high enough to provide booster to immunity and second noni has properties to activate macrophages; it is one of the important immune cells which are significantly required by immune system.
- Stress Relief
The other health benefit of noni fruit is as anti depressant. Ancient manuscript has been mentioned this matter and recent studies also showed the same result that noni could stimulate two major hormones called serotonin and melatonin. Those two hormones have been widely recognized as stress relief. While melatonin could help you having a good night sleep, serotonin will improve your mood and emotion during sleeping.
- Anti-Cancer/Tumor
As antioxidant noni fruit surely has ability to fight the development of cancerous cell but it is not the only substances that noni fruit as anti-cancer fruit. Noni fruit has been proven to be able in stimulating the production of nitric oxide; a substance which is effective to reduce the growth of tumor, fight cancerous cells and at the same time maintaining the healthy cells.
- Controlling Hypertension
Not everyone could consume noni juice due to its smell but the effectiveness of noni fruit in controlling blood pressure level is still the best among natural remedies. It is because noni fruit contained substances called xeronine that could control blood pressure level while scopoletin will help in dilating blood vessel to assist the work of heart in producing and distributing blood.
- Lowering Cholesterol Level
As fruit which is well known has heart-healthy benefit, noni fruit has been proven to be effective in lowering cholesterol level as well. This is due to some substances contained in noni fruit that could increase the production of HDL and prevent the absorption of LDL which could cause the accumulation of plaque in arteries.
- Good for Diabetic Patient
After has been proven to be effective in lowering cholesterol level, noni fruit also proven to be able in lowering blood sugar level. The scientist believed that two compounds, triterpene and saponin, found in noni fruit has significant role in lowering blood sugar level. The research stated that the effect shown by noni fruit and diabetic drug are similar.
- Brain Super Food
As mentioned above, noni fruit has some properties that could prevent the absorption of LDL. LDL could cause the constriction of arteries due to the accumulation of plaque. If arteries were free from plaque, brain will get the proper oxygen and you will have healthy brain and better memory system.
- Constipation Relief
Some compounds found in noni fruit could stimulate the production of digestive enzyme that will help the digestive system work a bit easier. Besides that noni fruit is high in fiber and water; by consuming noni juice could help bowel movement moving a bit smoother and get rid of constipation naturally.
- Anti-bacterial
As anti-bacterial, noni fruit has some properties contained that have been proven to be able in fighting bacteria; those properties are like triterpenes, scopoletin, and anthraquinones. Those properties also have been proven to be much more effective in fighting bacteria compared to some prescribed drugs. That’s why, noni fruit is also recommended as home remedy to treat some skin conditions caused by fungi.
- Good for Digestive System
As rich in fiber and water, surely noni fruit is good for digestive system. Besides that some compounds also found in noni fruit that could help in producing specific digestive enzyme to ease up the movement of food and waste inside intestine system that is good for digestive system and especially for those who have problem with digestion.
- Powerful Antioxidant
Antioxidant has main function as cell protector and to fight free radicals. Free radicals caused by stress, environmental exposures and unhealthy habit. Smoking and poor diet considered as unhealthy habit. Noni fruit as antioxidant could help you protecting your healthy cells from free radicals and at the same time maintaining the healthy cells in your body.
- Anti-inflammation
As anti-inflammation, noni fruit is effective to fight painful inflammatory condition. The analgesic contained in noni fruit could assist in relief the pain while the nitric oxide will reduce the inflammation effect which is also supported by the fact that noni fruit is a powerful antioxidant source that could assist in repairing the damaging cells caused by inflammation.
- Could Fight Infection
Bacteria and fungus could infect your body from inside or outside. Consuming noni fruit could assist in controlling bacteria inside your body and noni fruit is also effective to deal with skin conditions caused by bacteria and fungus. As anti-inflammation noni fruit could assist in treating the rashes occurred in skin caused by several skin conditions.
- Natural Remedy for Toothache
As anti-bacteria, noni fruit is also effective in treating toothache. The anti-bacteria substances contained in noni fruit will directly remove the bacteria which caused the swelling of the gums and the analgesic will function as pain killer.
- Good for Bone Structure
Osteoporosis is one of the bone conditions where the degeneration of bone cells is not followed by proper regeneration of new bone cells. The problem is due to some factors like environment exposures and unhealthy habit could cause the faster degeneration of bone cells. Recent studies found that noni fruit could slower the degeneration of bone cells while some substances contained in noni fruit like methyl acetyl and caprylic acid are good for bone health.
- Relief Gout
The main cause of gout is due to the high level of uric acid in the blood; the best solution to deal with it is by reducing the level f uric acid in blood. Painkiller might be effective but only temporarily. Noni fruit is contained of effective substances that could assist in lowering the level of uric acid and curing gout.
- Natural Pain Killer
As mentioned above, noni fruit is effective home remedy to cure headache, migraine and toothache. It is due to the high amount of analgesic found in this exotic fruit. In other words, noni fruit could be functioning as natural pain killer as well. Furthermore, noni fruit also contained a substance which has similar function as morphine sulfate that could assist in getting rid of pain occurred in the joints.
- Home Remedy for Diarrhea
The main caused of diarrhea is bacteria. Bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella are two bacteria that are responsible to this disease condition. As anti-bacteria, surely noni fruit could remove those two bacteria completely from body system. As the result, diarrhea could be cured naturally without prescribed drugs.
- Could Cure Bronchitis
Bronchitis caused by virus and bacteria; that is why consuming noni fruit could assist in killing the bacteria which caused this condition. Unfortunately since bronchitis is easily spreading through the air and direct contact, intensive treatment is still required to avoid the worse condition. However, noni fruit is also able in boosting immunity system that will provide additional protection toward viruses or bacteria that could attack body system.
- Good for Skin
All fruits and vegetables that are functioning as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-bacteria are always good for skin. Perhaps not like any other fruits that could help your skin look fairer, smoother or more glowing, instead noni fruit is functioning as protection that will protect your skin from some skin conditions and as anti-bacteria noni fruit is also applicable to treat acnes.
- Treat Burn Scars
Burn scars may be easy to be treated but the after effect is much more disturbing. No one is willing to have burn scars in their smooth skin. Dermatology world might have solution to deal with it now through intensive treatment or even surgery but as first aid and home remedy solution, noni fruit is also effective to treat burn scars. This is due to substances contained in noni fruit called terpenoid that could help in restoring damaged cells.
- Cure Dermatitis Condition
Burn scar is one of example of dermatitis condition that could be treated by using noni fruit. However, it is not the only function of noni fruit in dermatitis area. Noni fruit as anti-inflammatory could help treating and even curing rashes occurred in skin and as anti-bacteria could assist in getting rid of acnes.
- Treat Food Poisoning
Dealing with food poisoning is relatively easy but some cases showed that food poisoning could be fatal; that’s why fast response is essential in this matter. Noni fruit could be used as first aid remedy when it comes to food poisoning cases. As anti-bacteria, noni fruit could assist in controlling the development of bacteria which entered the body through unhygienic or expired food.
- Natural Energy Booster
Consuming noni fruit regularly could provide a person natural energy booster they need to support their daily activity. It is due to scopoletin which assists the work of heart in producing and distributing blood by dilating blood vessel. Good blood circulation means good metabolism which will produce energy required to do daily activities.
- Treat Hemorrhoids
There are some causes of hemorrhoids cases, genetic also has important role in causing this condition but mostly unhealthy diet and vitamin E deficiency that caused poor and swollen rectal health is the reason. As anti-inflammation noni fruit has ability to shrink the swollen membrane. However, vitamin E contained in noni fruit is not high enough to help a person with vitamin E deficiency, combining it with other foods that are rich of vitamin E is recommended to help treating hemorrhoids completely.
- Natural Remedy for Dysentery
Dysentery case might be similar with diarrhea but dysentery is more serious. The early symptoms are the same with diarrhea but with additional of blood. In other words, dysentery is diarrhea with blood. Besides that the cause is also different, while diarrhea is cased by bacteria E. Coli and Salmonella, dysentery caused by amoeba Entamoeba histolitica. As anti-bacteria and fungus, noni fruit is also effective in killing amoeba.
- Relief Stomach Inflammation
Stomach inflammation has similar symptoms with common stomach disorder but with inflammation. It makes this condition is a bit more serious and should be taken seriously as well. However, as part of home remedy treatment, noni fruit could assist in relieve the pain in stomach caused by the inflammation and in the process also able to reduce the inflammation. Substances found in noni fruit, scopoletin has prominent role in dealing with this stomach condition.
- Dealing with Thyroid Inflammation
One of the main causes of inflammation in thyroid gland is the high consumption of sodium. As rich in potassium, noni fruit could help body detoxifying the excess amount of sodium in the body and as anti-inflammation this exotic fruit also reducing the pain caused by the inflammation and shrinking the swollen thyroid gland.
- Asthma Remedy
Noni fruit may not the super fruit to cure asthma completely but as home remedy treatment consuming noni fruit has been proven to ease asthma symptom and prevent the trigger. The best way to prevent asthma is by avoiding the trigger and allergic is one of the triggers that cause asthma to appear. Noni fruit is rich of antioxidant called flavonoid. Histaminic is substance that has prominent contribution in trigging some allergic symptoms and flavonoids is an anti-histaminic to prevent the production of histaminic.
Side Effects of Noni Fruit
Speaking of health benefits of noni fruit, as a smart customer you cannot just trust drug manufactures that are offering you supplement products made from noni fruit. You have to be smart in consuming supplement because the nutrients and chemical compounds founds in supplement products might be higher if compared to the amount found in fresh noni fruit. That is why finding out more about side effects that might be occurred due to high dosage consumption of several nutrients contained in noni fruit is highly recommended, especially for those who are already in certain health conditions.
- Pregnant and breast-feeding Mother Should Avoid Noni Fruit
Noni fruit should be avoided by pregnant mother because noni fruits are widely used in some abortion cases. How about breast –feeding mother? Well, there is medical support yet that stated noni fruit is safe to be consumed by a breast-feeding mother.
- Kidney Problem
A person with acute kidney problem also should avoid consuming noni fruit in all cost. It is due to the amount of potassium found in noni fruit is relatively high. If kidney is no longer able to remove potassium, the risk of accumulation of kidney stone is also higher.
- Liver Disease
Some cases of liver diseases were connected with noni fruit consumption. To be safe, if you have liver issue avoiding consuming noni fruit is highly recommended.
- High in Potassium
Potassium might be good for some people but those who already have high level of potassium in their body should avoid consuming noni fruit because it could lead to a serious kidney and liver problems.
Traditionally noni fruit has been actively used as part of traditional remedy since decades ago, that’s why some scientists decided to conduct a deeper studies toward this exotic fruit whether all the benefits claimed were true or not. Besides that, those studies and researches were important to guarantee that health manufactures were not misleading it just for the sake of profit because supplement products made from noni fruit has been widely spread as part of medical supplement, even FDA has issued a warning regarding this matter toward some manufactures that provided medical information without scientific backup.