Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as great morinda, Indian mulberry, nunaakai (Tamil Nadu, India), dog dumpling (Barbados),

mengkudu (Indonesia and Malaysia), apatot (Philippines),kumudu (Bali), pace (Java), beach mulberry, cheese fruit
[1]

or noni (from Hawaiian) is a tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Its native range extends

through Southeast Asia and Australasia, and the species is now cultivated throughout the tropics and widely naturalised.
[2]

Noni juice comes from the fruit of the noni (Morinda citrifolia), a small, tropical, evergreen tree thats recognised by its bumpy, grenade-like greenish/yellow fruit. It grows throughout the tropics, including Southeast Asia, India, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti and northern Australia where its sometimes called cheese fruit. Its also nicknamed the vomit fruit because of its strong, pungent smell, which worsens as the fruit ripens some claim you can smell it up to five metres away! Fortunately, noni fruit tastes better than it smells, although its fairly bland which is why its usually blended with other fruits when juicing. There are lots of other names for noni around the world, including Indian mulberry, mengkudu, canary wood, ach and the painkiller bush in the Caribbean where its long been used for joint pain and skin conditions. In Polynesia, the noni plant has been used for up to 2000 years as food, medicine and dye. The roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits of the noni are still used in many traditional societies to treat a range of conditions from nausea and period pain to asthma and tuberculosis. In Malaysia, noni leaves are used to wrap fresh fish for baking*1, and in Burma the fruit is used in curries and eaten raw with salt. Today, noni juice is growing in popularity, especially in the US and Southeast Asia, where you can buy prepackaged organic noni juice from health food stores and some supermarkets. Its also available in teas, capsules, tablets and powder formwhich is usually higher in nutrients like Vitamin C, niacin, iron and potassium.

***Why its so good

Noni juice alone has relatively low levels of vitamin C however its antioxidants are said to be helpful for heart disease and high blood pressure. One US study of smokers, found those who drank noni juice daily for a month had a significant drop in total cholesterol and triglycerides. However, the study was funded by a US noni juice manufacturer so more impartial research is needed. Another US researcher reviewed the results of 10,000 noni users and found that regular consumption helped reduce symptoms in cancer patients and chronic pain sufferers.

Other preliminary research shows that it helps maintain a healthy immune system and may have tumourfighting properties. The US National Cancer Institute is currently funding research into nonis potential prevention and treatment of breast cancer. There are lots of other, even less substantiated health claims for noni juice. Advocates say it helps regulate hormone production, builds and strengthens bones, deters premature aging, boosts energy and physical performance, and helps with arthritis, obesity, chronic fatigue, depression, indigestion, allergies, headaches, drug addiction, colds, flu, and more.

***What to watch out for

Noni juice has high potassium levels making it potentially dangerous to people with chronic kidney disease. Published case reports also show that some people suffer liver damage with noni juice. If you have these conditions, speak to your GP first. Noni fruit contains high levels of glucose and is not recommended for those with diabetes. Large volumes of noni juice may also cause constipation. Noni juice can be pricey and hard to find, and you can easily get the same health benefits from more affordable juices like orange, cranberry and tomato. (There is more Vitamin C in a raw orange than a glass of noni juice.)

lose to 26 million people in the United States -- or 8.3 percent of the population -- have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Various prescription medications and lifestyle modifications have been investigated to treat the condition and prevent complications like heart disease, strokes, blindness and organ failure. In traditional Polynesian medicine, noni fruit has been used to treat diabetes, and research on lab animals is verifying noni's potential to help diabetics. Identification Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is an evergreen shrub native to tropical regions in the Pacific Ocean. The leaves and fruit of the noni have been used for medicinal purposes, although the juice from the fruit may be the most popular form. In laboratory research, noni is being studied for its properties as an antioxidant and an immune system booster, as well as for its ability to fight tumors and treat diabetes.

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Blood Sugar A study published in the "Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine" in 2008 found that noni juice added to insulin treatments was more effective in controlling blood sugar in laboratory rats than either component alone. A team at the University of the West Indies studied fermented noni juice in diabetes-induced rats that were given 2 ml/kg per body weight of the juice daily for 20 days. Both the noni-fed group and a group treated with the prescription hypoglycemic drug glibenclamide showed a significant reduction in blood sugar. The researchers concluded that the effects may be due to compounds in noni known as triterpenes and saponins. The results were published in "Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine" in October 2010. Cataracts

High blood sugar levels caused by diabetes cause the lens of your eye to swell and may lead to vision problems that include cataracts, a clouding of the lens. A study from India published in May 2011 in the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology" studied eight different plants including noni on a sugar-induced lens opacity model in the lab. The noni extract showed the most potential of all the plants to keep the eye lens clear, and it even demonstrated a moderate toxicity to cancer cells. Liver Damage Diabetes can increase your risk of certain types of liver conditions, such as fatty liver disease, which causes scarring. In addition to looking at noni's effects on blood sugar levels, the University of the West Indies study published in 2010 also examined noni's effects on the livers of diabetic rats. The researchers discovered that diabetic rats treated with noni juice had reduced fatty degeneration in liver cells, with smaller and less numerous fatty globules, than in the diabetic untreated animals. Wound Healing Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to wounds that heal poorly. A study published in the "Journal of Wound Care" in February 2007 conducted research to see if noni had any effects on wound healing in diabetic rats. In addition to controls, a group of animals was given 100 ml/kg body weight of noni juice in their drinking water for 10 days. The diabetic rats given noni juice had a 73 percent reduction in the wound area compared to controls, and fasting blood glucose in the rats was reduced by 29 percent. Considerations Noni is high in potassium, so if you have kidney disease and are on a low-potassium diet, you should avoid noni. Even though research shows potential protections for the liver in diabetics, there have also been a few reports of liver damage from using noni. Several preparations of noni juice may also contain added sugar, which may affect your blood glucose levels. Check with your doctor before adding noni juice or extracts to your diet.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/462799-noni-benefits-for-diabetes/#ixzz20rkkIxtK

Elevated Potassium Levels Noni fruit extract contains a high level of the mineral potassium. In fact, just 3.5 oz. of noni juice contains 30 to 150 mg of potassium, according to the nutrient information for Tahitian Noni Juice. If you consume large doses of noni fruit extract or take this supplement for a prolonged period of time, you may be at risk of developing unusually elevated potassium levels in your blood. High potassium levels -- a medical condition called hyperkalemia -- may cause breathing difficulties, weakness, unusual body sensations, paralysis, fatigue, nausea and vomiting or heart rate irregularities. If you exhibit any of these symptoms while taking noni fruit extract, seek care from your physician as soon as possible. Without appropriate treatment, hyperkalemia may be life threatening.

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Liver Toxicity Consuming products that contain noni fruit extract may damage your liver, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports. If you sustain liver damage, you may experience symptoms of fatigue, itchy skin, upper abdominal pain or jaundice. Seek prompt care from your physician if you develop any symptoms of liver damage. Medication Interactions Discuss all current medications or supplements you are taking with your primary medical provider before beginning treatment with any nutritional supplement. Noni fruit extract may interfere with the normal actions of certain types of chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation therapies, the MSKCC reports. Additionally, this supplement may enhance the effects of blood-thinners, such as Coumadin, which may increase your risk of developing bleeding or bruising complications. Concomitant use of this supplement and diuretics or blood pressure lowering medications should be avoided. In conjunction, noni fruit extract and diuretics or blood pressure lowering medications may cause a significant drop in your blood pressure and may lead to symptoms of dizziness, headache or fatigue. Contraindications If you have any pre-existing health conditions, consult your doctor before taking supplements that contain noni fruit extract. People who have kidney or liver disease should avoid using noni fruit extract because it may exacerbate disease symptoms.

Additionally, many products that contain noni fruit extract also contain large amounts of sugar. People with diabetes -- a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels -- should avoid taking these high-sugar noni fruit extract supplements.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/341833-side-effects-of-noni-fruit-extract/#ixzz20rmotjse