MORE ON
THE NONI PLANT
Noni products are getting more
and more attention all the time. Over the past 6
years, the nutrition market has become flooded with
different products. Companies now offer everything
from noni juice, to noni capsules and noni tea,
and even noni soap. But not all products are the
same, so it is important to know what to look for
before you make an investment in any of these products.
Here is a list of important things to understand
before making your first noni purchase.
Harvesting
Noni fruit must be harvested in a specific way to
protect the fruit's nutrients. The handling of the
fruit from the very beginning can have an affect
on the fruit's efficacy. In a recent article published
in Alternative Health magazine, Dr. Harvey Kaltsas
remarked, "Noni's nutritional value is best
when picked ripe, which results in the highest level
of polysaccharides, fatty acids, and proteins-compounds
possibly responsible for the therapeutic biological
activity of the fruit." Some companies have
complete control over the harvesting and picking
process, while some have limited control, and others
may have no control, relying on an ingredient broker's
expertise. If one noni product isn't working for
you, you may consider switching to a product from
a company that has more control over the production
process. If you are unsure of the origin of the
fruit, or of the control the company exercises over
the harvesting process, don't hesitate to ask them
before purchasing the product. TO
TOP
Processing
There are many different ways noni products are
processed and brought into the commercial market.
The most popular methods will be explored below.
If you are not getting results from a particular
product, you may examine the method used to produce
the product and you may even consider trying another
product processed using a different method. Each
product has its pros and cons; examples are outlined
below. TO
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Juice
Only Method
Noni fruit is picked when the product is ripe or
very ripe, bordering on rotten. When the fruit is
this ripe, the juice literally drips off of the
fruit. The fruit is then placed over large screens
and the juice drips off from the fruit and is collected
in large tubs. This juice is then cleaned and bottled
with out adding any other flavouring agents, sweeteners,
or thickeners. These products normally bear a label
stating "100% pure noni juice". Sometimes
companies will add water to the juice before bottling
it for increased volume. The FDA currently has no
regulations on noni juice, so companies can legally
add water back to the juice that was collected and
it can still bear the label "100% pure noni
juice". This product should also pass through
a pasteurization process for safety. a. Pro: This
is the purest form of noni juice. b. Cons: 100%
pure juice can be difficult to palate because of
noni's inherit strong taste. The natural juice can
be diluted undetectable and it will still bear the
100% pure juice label. Juice made from this method
is at risk of being rotten due to over ripening.
This process excludes any beneficial properties
that could be contained in the noni fruit. TO
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The
Puree Method
The entire noni fruit is used in creating the juice.
As in the 100% pure products, the fruit should be
picked when fully ripe. The fruit is mashed finely
(excluding the seeds) into a liquid puree. Because
this puree is thick, flavouring juices are usually
added to make the fruit into a liquid, palatable,
consistency before bottling. This product should
pass through a pasteurization process for safety.
a. Pros: Although still under scientific investigation,
there are some beneficial properties derived from
the noni fruit that you receive in the products
using this method. The juice is more palatable with
the addition of flavouring juices. Natural flavouring
juices can enhance the nutritional benefits of the
juice. b. Cons: Too many flavouring agents added
can weaken the overall potency of the juice. Look
for a product that is at least 70% noni juice. TO
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Tablets
and Capsules
The noni fruit is picked when it has reached maturity.
The fruit is then passed through a dehydration or
drying process that removes the majority of moisture
content from the fruit. The dried fruit typically
undergoes a process called "irradiation"
to clean and sanitize the dried fruit. It is then
ground into fine particles that are encapsulated
or bound into tablets. a. Pros: Tablets and capsules
are convenient and easy to consume. The natural
taste of the noni fruit is masked, making it palatable.
b. Cons: Because of a lack of scientific research
on dried or dehydrated noni, its efficacy in this
state is largely unknown. Any time a fruit is dehydrated,
certain nutrients and compounds are lost. It has
yet to be determined which properties in the noni
fruit are lost during this process, but it is impossible
to prevent some nutrients from being lost. TO
TOP
The
Powdered Juice Method
The noni fruit is generally picked when it has reached
maturity. The fruit is then passed through a dehydration
or drying process that removes the majority of the
moisture content from the fruit. After being irradiated,
the fruit is then ground into fine particles that
are added into a liquid solution consisting of flavouring
agents, sweeteners, and thickeners. You can identify
this juice by pouring it into a clear container
and letting it sit overnight. If black, grainy particles
settle to the bottom of the cup, the juice has been
made with this process. Also, the particles are
readily identifiable floating in the juice. a. Pros:
The juice will normally have a good flavour. The
drying process masks the naturally occurring odour
and taste of the noni fruit. b. Cons: The drying
or dehydrating process removes some nutritional
value from the fruit. In addition, it is difficult
to determine how much noni you are getting in each
serving. Some of these products bear high sugar
content as artificial sweeteners have been added.
TO
TOP
Pasteurization
In the United States, the FDA strongly recommends
that all fruit juices be pasteurized. Currently
98% of all juices in the U.S. are pasteurized to
kill harmful bacteria that may have grown during
the harvesting and bottling process. Check with
the manufacturer to make sure that the noni juice
product you purchase has been pasteurized. If it
has not been, law requires it to bear a label warning
consumers of the hazards of drinking unpasteurized
juices. TO
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Nutritional
Facts
All consumable products in the United States must
provide a nutritional facts panel on the label.
There are a few companies that have not made the
effort to provide a compliant label. Beware of these
companies as they are in direct violation of the
law. It is important to understand exactly what
you are purchasing. If you don't know or can't find
the answer, don't be afraid to ask. There are large
differences in the types of noni products on the
market. TO
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Noni is a phenomenal fruit. However,
many factors can influence a final product's efficacy.
The more you know about the noni product, how it
is harvested, where it was grown, and how it was
processed, the more likely you are to achieve your
desired results. If you are not receiving noticeable
results after 60 days, consider switching to a product
that is manufactured using a different process.
TO
TOP
Look for 100% Certified
Pure Organic Noni Juice as your best source.
