Noni juice is made from Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) fruit, which is used as a food and folk medicine in tropical regions. In recent years, noni juice has gained much popularity as a dietary supplement and several studies have reported its beneficial effects.1
Various parts of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and bark are considered beneficial for their nutritional content. However, the fruit is found to contain the most valuable compounds and can offer great health benefits.2
Hence, it is very interesting to know about the benefits of noni juice and plan to introduce it into your diet.
Useful Health Benefits of Noni Juice
Earlier, noni fruit was consumed as a folk medicine for its benefits in treating health issues like pain, constipation, and infections. Today, it is more popular in its juice form and noni juice too offers several health benefits. It has a slightly bitter taste and sometimes other fruit juices or sweeteners are added to it.
Nutrient-dense
Noni juice is rich in a variety of nutrients including vitamins and minerals essential for regular body functions. While it is rich in carbs it is also loaded with vitamin C, which is an antioxidant and helps boost the immune system. It also helps in repair and healing, protecting skin and tissues from damage.
Being rich in vitamin B complex, noni juice is considered a power-packed drink that offers energy and nourishment. Noni juice helps to reduce general weakness, and fatigue and helps improve energy levels and overall physical performance of the body.
The benefits of noni juice are mostly related to its nutritious nature and antioxidant properties.
Antioxidant-rich
Noni juice is high in antioxidants, mainly including vitamin C and vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and other phytochemical compounds. Antioxidants can help prevent cellular damage and protect cells and tissues from free radicals. Most of the health benefits of noni juice are related to the presence of these antioxidants and the cell protection they can offer. As a result, noni juice is believed to help protect against chronic disorders like diabetes mellitus and heart disease.
Some of the benefits of noni juice that can be attributed to the presence of antioxidants include the following:
Relieves Arthritic Pain: Noni juice can help relieve pain, which is often the most unbearable symptom of arthritis. It can help reduce inflammation, alleviate pain and reduce the symptoms of arthritis, and help in controlling joint destruction. Noni juice also plays an important role in the removal of toxins from the body. It is hence, useful in the management of gout, which is a form of arthritis by avoiding the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and controlling the pain.
Fights Aging: One of the benefits of noni juice that has caught attention is its ability to fight free radicals. With vitamins and antioxidants, it can keep skin healthy, and supple and maintain the elasticity of the skin. This can help reverse the effects of aging and make you look and feel young.
Boost Immunity: Being rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, noni juice offers a protective role in several infections by improving immunity. These nutrients protect against cell damage and support the immune system by fighting off the influence of toxins and pollutants. It is also believed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties and can help fight off irritation caused by skin and scalp infections.
In a 2011 study, it was concluded that consumption of noni juice offered antioxidant properties associated with its phenolic compounds, which can even offer anti-inflammatory benefits.3
Protective Role In Cancer: Noni juice, owing to its antioxidant properties can protect your cells from free radicals and oxidative stress. It can offer immune boosting and tumor-fighting properties, due to which noni juice can be beneficial in preventing certain types of cancers.
While there is a lot spoken about the benefits of noni juice, there is limited evidence to support them. Some studies have suggested that consumption of noni juice is safe while in some cases toxicity was noted.4 Hence, there is a need for more research in this area to substantiate the benefits of noni juice and the dosage in which it can be consumed safely.
The benefits of noni juice are many but for some people caution is necessary. As noni juice is often mixed with other juices or sugar, the combination may be high in glucose. This is not recommended for people with diabetes and those trying to lose weight. As it may result in toxicity in some people, those with chronic ailments and liver disorders may need to be more cautious. It is best to seek medical advice before having noni juice for any specific health concerns.
