Noni Juice – Immunity Boosting & Anti Viral
By Prithu Nath
During Viral Seasons, Improved Physical Endurance and Improved Immunity are two main factors that may be crucial in the recovery Process.
Noni Fruit also known as Lakshman Phal or Ram Phal in Local Parlance is a juice derived from the fruit of a tropical evergreen plant called Noni (popularly known as Indian mulberry). It is a shrub native to Southern and South-East Asia and the Pacific islands, and is even mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts. “The fruit of the noni has been used medicinally to boost the immune system and detoxify the body for thousands of years,”. It is rich in powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 (niacin) and iron, Selenium.
The nutritional profile of noni juice varies by brand. In general, noni juice provides a great source of vitamin C, biotin, and folate.
Contains powerful antioxidants
Noni juice is known for its high levels of antioxidants.
Antioxidants prevent cellular damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Your body requires a healthy balance of antioxidants and free radicals to maintain optimal health (6Trusted Source).
Researchers suspect that the potential health benefits of noni juice are likely related to its powerful antioxidant properties (7Trusted Source, 8, 9Trusted Source).
The main antioxidants in noni juice include beta carotene, iridoids, and vitamins C and E (6Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
In particular, Iridoids demonstrate strong antioxidant activity in test-tube studies — although more research is needed to confirm their effects in humans (11Trusted Source).
Nonetheless, studies indicate that a diet rich in antioxidants — such as those found in noni juice — may lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Summary
Noni juice is packed with antioxidants, including iridoids, that may provide numerous health benefits.
May improve immune health
Noni juice may support immune health.
Like some other fruit juices, it’s is rich in vitamin C. For example, 3.5 ounces (100 ml) of Tahitian Noni Juice packs about 33% of the RDI for this vitamin.
Vitamin C supports your immune system by protecting your cells from free radical damage and environmental toxins (32Trusted Source).
Many other antioxidants present in noni juice — such as beta carotene — may improve immune health as well.
One small, 8-week study found that healthy people who drank 11 ounces (330 ml) of noni juice daily had increased immune cell activity and lower levels of oxidative stress.
May improve endurance during exercise
Noni juice may improve physical endurance. In fact, Pacific Islanders believed that eating noni fruit strengthened the body during long fishing trips and voyages (9Trusted Source).
A few studies show positive effects of drinking noni juice during exercise.
For example, one 3-week study gave long-distance runners 3.4 ounces (100 ml) of noni juice or a placebo twice daily. The group that drank noni juice experienced a 21% increase in average time to fatigue, which suggests improved endurance (26).
Other human and animal research reports similar findings for using noni juice to combat fatigue and improve endurance (9Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source).
The increase in physical endurance associated with noni juice is likely related to its antioxidants — which may reduce the damage to muscle tissue that normally occurs during exercise.
May relieve pain in people with arthritis
For over 2,000 years, noni fruit has been used in traditional folk medicine for its pain-relieving effects. Some research now supports this benefit.
For instance, in a 1-month study, people with degenerative arthritis of the spine took 0.5 ounces (15 ml) of noni juice twice daily. The noni juice group reported a significantly lower pain score — with complete relief of neck pain in 60% of participants (28).
In a similar study, people with osteoarthritis took 3 ounces (89 ml) of noni juice daily. After 90 days, they experienced a significant decrease in the frequency and severity of arthritis pain, as well as an improved quality of life (29).
Arthritis pain is often associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, noni juice may provide natural pain relief by reducing inflammation and combatting free radicals (30Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source).
May support heart health in smokers
Noni juice may support heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation.
Cholesterol has many important functions in your body, but certain types in excess may increase your risk of heart disease — as may chronic inflammation (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).
One study found that drinking up to 6.4 ounces (188 ml) of noni juice per day for 1 month significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and the inflammatory blood marker C-reactive protein (24Trusted Source).
However, the subjects of the study were heavy cigarette smokers, so the results cannot be generalized to all people. Researchers suspect that noni juice’s antioxidants may reduce the high cholesterol levels caused by smoking tobacco (24Trusted Source).
A separate, 30-day study gave non-smokers 2 ounces (59 ml) of noni juice twice daily. Participants did not experience significant changes in cholesterol levels (25).
These results suggest that the cholesterol-lowering effect of noni juice may only apply to heavy cigarette smokers.
That said, more research on noni juice and cholesterol is needed.
Treats Fever: Studies suggest that Noni juice has antiviral properties and helps get rid of cough, fever and body ache. It is important to “take a shot of noni juice on a daily basis to reap the benefits. It is best consumed in small quantities,”.
May reduce cellular damage from tobacco smoke
Noni juice may reduce cellular damage — particularly from tobacco smoke.
Exposure to tobacco smoke generates dangerous amounts of free radicals. Excessive amounts can cause cellular damage and lead to oxidative stress (14Trusted Source).
Oxidative stress is associated with many ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Studies show that consuming foods rich in antioxidants may reduce oxidative stress (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
In one study, heavy tobacco smokers were given 4 ounces (118 ml) of noni juice per day. After 1 month, they experienced a 30% reduction of two common free radicals compared to their baseline levels (19Trusted Source).
Tobacco smoke is also known to cause cancer. Certain chemicals from tobacco smoke may bind to cells in your body and lead to tumor growth (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
Noni juice may reduce levels of these cancer-causing chemicals. Two clinical trials found that drinking 4 ounces (118 ml) of noni juice daily for 1 month reduced the levels of cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smokers by about 45% (13Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).
Yet, noni juice does not negate all of smoking’s negative health effects — and should not be considered a replacement for quitting.
High in sugar
Commercial Noni juice may contain high amounts of sugar due to the variability between brands. What’s more, it’s mixed with other fruit juices that are often very sweet.
In fact, 3.5 ounces (100 ml) of noni juice contains roughly 8 grams of sugar. Studies show that sugar-sweetened beverages like noni juice may increase your risk of metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes (39, 40Trusted Source, 41Trusted Source).
Thus, it may be best to drink noni juice in moderation — or avoid it if you limit your sugar intake.