Noni juice is made from the fruit of the noni plant, which is a small evergreen tree in the coffee family that grows in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia, and India. It usually grows near lava flows.
Some of the common names around the world for noni include.
- Indian mulberry
- Beach mulberry
- Great morinda
- Headache tree
- Cheese fruit
Noni fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, stems, and roots are used to make dye as well as medicine. Noni juice is made like most juices — from pressing the berries and combining the juices with water and sometimes with sweeteners. This juice has been popular in traditional medicine around the world for many years, and people drink noni juice to help with a variety of ailments like general aches and pains, arthritis, constipation, and infections.
While some scientific evidence supports the claims of health benefits from noni juice, more human research is needed to consider juices from different sources and in broader populations.
Health Benefits
Many of the perceived health benefits of noni juice are not supported by adequate scientific research. However, there is data to suggest that drinking noni juice can:
Reduce Neck Pain
Research shows that drinking noni juice can play a role in treating degenerative musculoskeletal conditions.
In one study, people with age-related spinal damage (cervical osteoarthritis or cervical spondylosis) reported less neck pain and stiffness when they combined noni juice with selected physiotherapies. However, treatment with physiotherapy alone does a better job of relieving pain and improving flexibility than noni juice alone.
Enhance Exercise Performance
Early studies show that drinking noni juice improves endurance, balance, and flexibility.
In one study, 40 highly trained athletes drank 100 milliliters of noni juice twice daily. Compared to the placebo group, those who had noni juice reported a 21% increase of endurance and improved antioxidant status. If you exercise regularly, adding noni juice to your hydration regimen might give you an energy boost and improve your endurance.
Protect Against Toxicities
Smoking tobacco suppresses your immune system and puts you at risk for various viral and bacterial infections. Research shows that noni juice can provide protection against toxicities related to smoking tobacco. It achieves this by:
- Protecting DNA from smoke-induced damage
- Normalizing blood lipids
- Controlling systemic inflammation
- Reducing homocysteine
Aid Weight Management
Early studies show that noni juice can be helpful in controlling weight and treating obesity. When combined with daily calorie restriction and exercise interventions, drinking noni juice contributes to significant weight loss. Researchers think this may be due to the way noni juice preserves active muscle cell mass.
Nutrition
Nutrients per Serving
The nutritional content of noni juice depends on the brand you’ve bought or if you’ve made it yourself. An 8-ounce serving of noni fruit juice contains:
- Calories: 32
- Sodium: 20 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 8 grams
- Sugar: 6 grams
Portion Sizes
Although there isn't a daily recommended intake of noni juice, studies show that drinking up to 750 milliliters, or just over 25 ounces, of noni juice per day is safe. In fact, noni juice is considered just as safe as other common fruit juices.
Things to Watch Out For
Many noni fruit juices contain added sugars, which can lead to a variety of health issues, such as cavities, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. You should be sure to consult the label before consuming noni juice to get a good sense of the total sugars or other additives in the brand you’ve selected.
How to Drink Noni Juice
Noni juice is often available as a blended juice, and it can be enjoyed cold or iced. To get the most health benefits of noni juice, look for options that don't contain any additives or preservatives.
