Noni or Morinda citrifolia is also called pace or noni fruit. Noni fruit is green and has black spots, and a bitter taste.
The taste of noni fruit is bitter and is usually taken with juice with low sugar content. Although bitter, noni has many benefits. One of them for people with diabetes.
Here are other benefits of noni for health as quoted from Heathline:
1. Cancer
Early research shows that taking 6-8 grams of noni daily can improve physical function, fatigue, and pain in people with advanced cancer. However, noni does not seem to reduce tumor size.
2. Age Related Spinal Damage (cervical spondylosis)
Early research shows that consuming noni fruit juice with physiotherapy for 4 weeks can reduce neck pain and increase neck flexibility. However, treatment with physiotherapy alone can cause pain.
3. Overcome Nausea
Noni can overcome nausea. Some studies show that noni fruit reduces nausea after surgery. However, it does not seem to affect vomiting.
4. Lowering Blood Sugar in People with Diabetes
Noni fruit juice is known as a high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent cell damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Your body needs a healthy balance of antioxidants and free radicals to maintain optimal health.
The researchers suspect that the potential health benefits of noni fruit juice may be related to the strong antioxidant properties. The main antioxidant content in noni fruit includes beta carotene, iridoids, and vitamin C, and E.
Specifically, iridoids show strong antioxidant activity in a study although further research is needed to confirm their effects on humans. However, research shows that a diet rich in antioxidants - such as those found in noni fruit juice, can reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Noni Side Effects
Noni fruit juice has side effects. Because only a few studies in humans evaluate the dosage and side effects. For example, one small study in healthy adults showed that drinking up to 25 ounces (750 ml) of noni fruit juice per day was safe.
But in 2005, several cases of liver poisoning were reported in people who consumed noni juice. In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a statement confirming the safety of noni fruit juice. However, EFSA experts report that some individuals may have certain sensitivity to liver effects.
In addition, people with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure may avoid noni juice because it is high in potassium and can cause blood levels of these compounds to be unsafe.
In addition, noni fruit juice can interact with certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or those used to slow blood clotting. For this reason, it is important to consult a doctor before drinking noni fruit juice.