76 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Noni
Noni fruit, an ancient Polynesian healing remedy, has at least 76 potential health benefits backed by recent scientific evidence
Noni, a fruit grown from the Morinda citrifolia tree and a member of the coffee family, is a tropical fruit native to the Pacific Islands. Noni has been used for thousands of years as a natural healing remedy.[i] In recent years, however, noni’s extract and juices have been proven to lower blood pressure, improve immunity, speed wound healing and increase physical endurance, among other health benefits.
10 Top Benefits of Noni Fruit
Noni’s potential therapeutic benefits are diverse, but here are 10 benefits of noni juice that have been well researched:
1. Noni Reduces the Risk of Gout
Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints. Noni juice lowers uric acid in the blood, reducing buildup and preventing the occurrence of gout. Noni juice has also been shown to inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme that increases inflammation in the joints. For these reasons, noni juice is considered a powerful therapeutic and preventative measure against gout.[ii] [iii]
2. Noni Has Potent Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The high amount of flavonoids and coumarins (a type of phytochemical used to prevent degenerative diseases) contained in noni juice exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, making noni juice a powerful antidote for inflammation. [iv] [v]
Similarly, noni fruit juice has been shown to inhibit cytokines related to intestinal inflammation, reduce systemic inflammation in cigarette smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke, and decrease inflammation related to osteoarthritis.[vi] [vii]
3. Noni Juice Aids in Weight Management
Obesity levels in the U.S. have reached unprecedented levels. While unhealthy weight can cause a myriad of health problems including metabolic dysfunction and diabetes, many diet and exercise programs promote unsafe methods for weight management.
Recently, Morinda citrifolia (noni) has been researched as a potential weight management supplement. In multiple studies, morinda citrifolia supplementation had positive effects on the regulation of body weight and fat deposits while improving metabolic pathways. Furthermore, noni supplementation did not suppress appetite or produce any negative side effects. [viii] [ix]
4. Noni Juice Has Antioxidant Effects
Noni juice has significant antioxidant activity, which likely comes from its high concentration of phenolic compounds and vitamin C. Phenolic compounds are most abundant in fruits and vegetables and are responsible for protecting the body from oxidative stress. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from free radicals that scavenge the body by neutralizing free radicals. [x] [xi]
5. Noni Improves and Increases Immune Function
The immune-activating effects of noni juice have been observed in several studies, partially due to the high antioxidant effects of noni juice. In one study, eight weeks of noni juice consumption led to a decrease in malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress, and increased levels of IFN-gamma, a cytokine responsible for stimulating immune response. [xii] [xiii]
Research indicates that noni consumption may modulate and regulate the immune system by activating various immune responses in healthy individuals.[xiv]
6. Noni Consumption Maintains Bone Density
Osteoporosis, which reduces the density and quality of bone health, is a serious health concern, especially in postmenopausal women. In several studies, women taking noni juice experienced decreased bone resorption (the breakdown of bone tissue) and better bone health.[xv]
In other studies, noni improved bone regeneration and increased bone marrow proliferation in estrogen-deficient rats.[xvi] [xvii] These results indicate that noni juice could provide powerful benefits to aging and menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis.
7. Noni Extract May Lower Pain Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pain from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be debilitating and decrease quality of life amongst arthritis patients. Hydrocortisone, a topical steroid medication, is often used to decrease pain in patients with RA. Noni has powerful anti-inflammatory effects that could help reduce RA pain and is as effective in pain management and joint destruction as hydrocortisone. [xviii] [xix]
8. Noni Juice Consumption Lowers Blood Pressure
A human study of the effect of noni juice on blood pressure confirmed that consumption of noni juice lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Additionally, participants experienced a reduction in heart rate and blood glucose levels, which may contribute to lowered blood pressure. [xx]
9. Noni Leaf Has Proven Wound-Healing Benefits
Used in Polynesian medicine for thousands of years as a traditional treatment of wounds, bruises and cuts, it’s no surprise that noni extract contains high amounts of Nrf2, a protein that plays an important role in wound healing. [xxi]
In several studies, noni leaf extract accelerated wound healing in mice and rats and reduced would closure time by half. Researchers theorize that the high amount of ethanol contained in noni leaf is responsible for the faster healing. [xxii] [xxiii]
10. Noni Reduces Stress and Improves Cognitive Function
Recent studies indicate that noni may protect the brain from stress-related impairment of cognitive function by preventing decreases in blood-vessel density in the brain. Noni is also known to improve brain energy metabolism and may have neuroprotective effects, leading to reduced cognitive impairment. [xxiv] [xxv]
66 More Reasons to Love Noni
In addition to these 10 benefits, noni has been shown to have positive effects on at least 66 more of the following conditions. To learn more about each, please visit GMI’s noni research database, which covers the following conditions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More research is being done to assess the optimal dosage of noni extract for each specific condition, but it’s clear from current data that noni has powerful medicinal benefits that warrant further study.
Is Noni Safe?
To test the safety of noni juice, researchers have conducted numerous tests, none of which have found any adverse effects of noni juice consumption. In one double-blind study, participants consumed between 30 milliliters (mL) and 750 mL of noni juice daily for 28 days, and experienced fewer adverse effects than the placebo group. [xxvi]
Similarly, researchers tested the safety of noni juice in pregnant women and found no harmful side effects — in fact, noni juice facilitated fetal development and seemed to increase maternal health.[xxvii],[xxviii] Based on these studies, noni juice is currently considered a safe medicinal treatment and has been declared a „novel food“ by the European Union and a „nutritional supplement“ in the U.S.[xxix],[xxx]
How to Safely Incorporate Noni Juice Into Your Diet
To safely incorporate noni juice into your diet and reap its full benefits, consider buying an organic and 100% pure noni juice with no added sugars or filler ingredients. As always, start with small doses and be aware of any side effects you experience. As with any food, it’s best to enjoy noni juice in moderation. Finally, listen to your body to determine if any new food or supplement is right for you
References [i] Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Dec;23(12):1127-41. [ii] Front Pharmacol. 2018; 9: 261. [iii] Phytother Res. 2009 Dec;23(12):1790-1 [iv] Mediators Inflamm. 2017; 2017: 6567432. [v] ScientificWorldJournal. 2012; 2012: 594657. [vi] J Diabetes Res. 2016; 2016: 2391592. [vii] Phytother Res. 2017 Dec;31(12):1954-1961. [viii] Food Nutr Res. 2017 Jul 27;61(1):1338919. [ix] J Nat Prod. 2005 Apr;68(4):592-5. [x] ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:594657. [xi] J Nat Prod. 2005 Apr;68(4):592-5. [xii] J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Feb 12;115(3):502-6. [xiii] Foods. 2018 Apr; 7(4): 58. [xiv] Phytother Res. 2019 Mar;33(3):676-689 [xv] Foods. 2018 Apr; 7(4): 58. [xvi] Int J Stem Cells. 2016 Nov; 9(2): 221–229 [xvii] Nutrition. 2017 Jan;33:42-51. [xviii] Phytother Res. 2010 Jan;24(1):38-42. [xix] Biol Pharm Bull. 2019;42(3):496-500. [xx] Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Aug 18;2019:6076751. [xxi] J Nat Sci. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Nov 18 [xxii] Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Sep;6(3):351-6. [xxiii] Phytother Res. 2010 Oct;24(10):1437-41. [xxiv] Neural Regen Res. 2013 Mar 25; 8(9): 773–782 [xxv] Physiol Behav. 2010 Sep 1;101(2):211-7 [xxvi] Pac Health Dialog. 2009 Nov;15(2):21-32. [xxvii] J Toxicol Sci. 2008 Dec;33(5):647-9. [xxviii] J Toxicol Sci. 2011 Jan;36(1):81-5. [xxix] Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019; 2019: 6076751. [xxx] Lex Access To European Union Law