NONI

Noni is a fruit that is found in Asia. The tree fruit Noni is also known as great morinda, cheese fruit, Indian mulberry as well as beach mulberry. Noni can also be found in many other regions throughout the world as well. It is available in India, Tahiti, and Polynesia and in Polynesia as well. The Latin name for Noni is Morinda Citrifolia.

Noni fruit has been studied to be a fruit providing many health benefits. The noni fruit is grown on trees in tropical locations. This fruit may be also be called nono, nonu, Indian mulberry, cheese fruit or Ba Ji Tian. The tree of the noni fruit grows on a shrub, sometimes a tree, reaching 12 feet. The fruit starts off green, then ripens to a yellow with a pale flesh with dark seeds. It takes about 3 months for the noni fruit to ripen on a tree.

The noni fruit has a foul odor and is not known to have a delicious taste. Indigenous people are also known to use the entire tree for health benefits including the stems, bark, leaves flowers and roots. The noni fruit is replete with phytochemicals such as terpenoids, octoanoic acid, rutin, ursolic acid, damnacanthal and caproic acid. These plant-based phytochemicals are known to have a large range of benefits to health.

The incredible health properties of the noni fruit were discovered by the Polynesians in the South Pacific over 2,000 years ago. The fruit originated from southeast Asia, but the Polynesians found they recovered from major illnesses after eating the fruit they called "the fruit of God."

Polysaccharides
•Polysaccharides are also called galactose, glycosides or glucuronic acid. They're known to be an immune system stimulator and to be have anti-bacterial properties. Other properties include anti-tumor and anti-cancer.

Scopoletin
•Scopoletin has been known to dilate a human's vascular system and may cause a lowering of blood pressure. This phytochemical is also an anti-inflammatory. Additionally, the analgesic properties may help sufferers of headaches, Alzheimer's and migraine headaches. Scopotetin also holds anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits, as well as histamine-inhibiting properties for allergy sufferers.

Noni Fruit and Cholesterol
•Noni has been studied to reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides for those who drink the juice once a day for a month. The researcher, Mian-Ying Wang, M.D., started researching the benefits of noni fruit after trying the juice on his own. He found he was personally affected by the health benefits of the noni fruit.

Forms of Noni Fruit
•The noni fruit doesn't have to be eaten as a whole piece of fruit. Many manufacturers have created a juice that's much more pleasant smelling and tasting than eating the raw fruit on its own. Capsules can also be bought if you don't want to try to eat such a foul-smelling fruit. Pure noni fruit powders can be mixed with foods and beverages.

Noni Fruit Nutrients
•As reported by the University of Hawaii, the noni fruit provides 55 percent of fiber in a 100g serving as required by the Dietary Reference Intake. Noni fruit is low in fat, with 12 percent protein. There are many micro-nutrients in the noni fruit, including vitamin C, B3, potassium, iron, vitamin A, calcium and sodium.

What is the nutritional value of Noni?
Noni is a good source of fiber and carbohydrates. The fruit also provides protein. The nutritional value makes the fruit a very good, healthy food. The pulp of the Noni fruit is fat free and is used to prepare noni juice. Noni juice is also high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, niacin and iron.

Medical benefits of noni juice

Although medical benefits have not been studied in detail in clinical laboratories, people believe that noni juice is good for the skin. People have been using Noni juice for healthier skin. Many people with acne are using Noni juice to help cure skin problem. It is believed that drinking noni juice will help with skin beautification. Skin cream can be created and used on skin afflictions.
Some individuals believe the fruit can heal constipation, stomach aches, as well as gum problems. Another benefit of noni juice is prevention of hair loss.
The limited number of studies done have shown that using hair products such as shampoos can reverse the hair loss process. The lost hair can be regenerated using Noni fruit containing products.

Researchers also believe that noni juice may have cancer fighting abilities. The research that has been conducted looks promising related to fighting cancer with Noni Juice. Noni Juice has been used in laboratories for cancer testing in labs. The testing has been conducting on mice. The results have shown that the cancerous tissue can be prevented from spreading.

Studies done using mice for research have shown that Noni Juice can stop or slow the growth of tumors over a period of time.
The cancer fighting abilities have not been proven in laboratories as more research is required. A result of using Noni Juice for cancer fighting is not guaranteed. Information has not been validated.
Although the medical research of Noni Juice is limited, conducted research has proven Noni Juice can decrease cholesterol level.

Minor Side Effects

Minor side effects include belching, diarrhea, headache, mild rash and pimples. Women taking noni juice might experience heavier menstruation.
Serious Side Effects
According to an article published in the World Journal of Gastroenteroly, a couple of people in Austria have developed liver damage after consuming excessive amounts of noni juice.

Allergy
Allergic reactions to noni juice are rare but include respiratory difficulty, gas, nausea and vomiting. Allergic reactions to noni juice usually subside within 24 hours.

Contraindications
Because noni juice is high in sugar, diabetics should be aware of blood glucose levels when drinking it.

Safe Dosage
Most side effects of noni juice coincide with the consumption of large amounts of the juice. The noni supplement information written by Dr. Ray Sahelian claims the safe dosage of noni is one to two capsules to day, or 2 tbsp. of noni juice.