The Noni fruit is one of the latest foods to be touted as a “Super fruit” but most people no very little about noni. The noni comes from a tree in the coffee family. The tree is native to Southeast Asia but has spread throughout India and the Pacific Islands with Tahiti being the most prominent area for noni production. Noni reaches maturity in about 18 months and produces between 8 and 18 pounds of fruit throughout the growing season. The fruit has a very strong odor while ripening, earning it the nick names “cheese fruit” and “vomit fruit”. Despite the fact that the fruit has such a strong smell and bitter taste, it it is often eaten during times of famine. The seeds are edible when roasted and is sometimes eaten raw and in curry. Due to the strong odor and taste of the noni, it is usually marketed as juice or as a powder.
There are many claims surrounding the noni, among them that the fruit is beneficial for weight loss, the treatment of asthma and cancer, can increase longevity, and improves the immune system There are also claims that the fruit will help lower cholesterol and help those who suffer from multiple sclerosis. Noni is marketed as being high in essential vitamins and dietary fiber. As with other “cure all” supplements, the list of alleged benefits is seemingly endless. It also seems that some of the claims may be marginally true.
Noni is rich in antioxidants and is high in Vitamin C. Noni is also high in dietary fiber and low in fat. There is little doubt about the value of antioxidants. When the noni is processed it loses a great deal of it’s nutritional value. In it’s processed state the noni boasts about the same levels of Vitamin C as a navel orange. The antioxidants contained in the noni are also available from many other sources.
As with any food that claims to “cure” a multitude of symptoms, there is reason to be skeptical. Generally claims that promise a scientific breakthrough or “miracle” ingredient should raise a warning. If the claims sound too good to be true, they probably are not valid. While there is no hard scientific proof of any of these claims, there is some concern about the amount of potassium in noni being detrimental to people who must follow potassium restricted diets due to kidney disease.
Since there hasn’t been any research on the medicinal benefits of noni, it must be left to the individual to determine if the benefits are worth the price of a bottle of noni juice (about 35.00 dollars for 32 ounces). A prudent course of action would be to discuss the possible benefits to adding noni to your diet with a medical professional before making a determination.
