What is Noni?

By Dr. Tim Hollingshead

The scientific name of noni is morinda citrifolia and more commonly as noni, beach mulberry, Indian mulberry, or great morinda, among others. The tree on which the noni fruit grows is native to Southeast Asia, but has been spread extensively through Asia and Pacific Islands.

The plant produces fruit all year. The fruit starts out green, but matures to a yellow or almost white color. The pungent odor of the ripened fruit gives rise to the less than appealing name such as "cheese fruit". The noni is a hardy plant capable of growing in a wide variety of habitats.

More recently, overzealous promotion has led to a similar range of claims. One website claimed that noni juice benefits and uses include inhibiting "pre-cancer function and growth of cancer tumors!" On the same website, a man claimed that after only 3 weeks of drinking noni, his arthritis was gone and he was no longer impotent.

So what is the truth about natural noni juice?

What is the nutritional content of Noni Juice - What is in noni? What are the vitamin, minerals, and antioxidants that make it so beneficial? Does it have an ORAC score?

Noni Juice benefits and uses - You've heard the claims, but what can you really expect? Can it reduce cholesterol? And does it back up the claims?

Noni Juice products - How do you pick which juice to buy? What should you look for in a quality product? Does it matter whether the fruit comes from Hawaii, Samoa or French Polynesia? Does the processing method matter?

How much to pay? Does price always equal quality? What would a fair price be for a quality product? Has it been diluted or reconstituted with water?

About the Author:

The truth is that even though natural Noni juice may not live up to all of the promotional hype, it is an excellent nutritional supplement rich in important nutrients. The potential benefits clearly make it a drink to consider as part of your well-balance diet.