Since I have been here in Ecuador I've gotten the pleasure of enjoying fresh tropical fruit every day!

One of the fruits that we have incorporated into our everyday diet is...

Noni!

A Polynesian superfood known for its incredible healing properties

Its benefits include but are not limited to

1. Analgesic- relieves headaches and is a powerful painkiller also effective for arthritis.

2. Powerful immune booster- contains anti bacterial agents that fight against infectious bacteria.

3. Anti-tumor/anti-cancer – Noni stimulates the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is an extremely useful substance. In this case, it reduces tumor growth and helps your body fight against the cancerous replication of cells. It also contains an immunomodulatory polysaccharide rich substance known as noni-ppt that further fights cancer.

4. Antidepressant/sedative – Noni stimulates seratonin and melatonin, two very important hormones. Seratonin affects mood, emotions, and sleep; imbalance in levels of serotonin may contribute to depression. Melatonin regulates the Circadian rhythm, which helps you sleep; keeping this regular will help you get a good night’s rest, also improving your mood.

5. Skincare/hair – Noni’s properties are useful on skin and scalp conditions, such as eczema and ringworm; also rubbed on scalp for lustrous hair; and will keep your skin young. Just rub some juice on affected skin/scalp, leave on for 15 minutes, rinse off. Ingestion of juice may help your nails to grow stronger.

6. Cholesterol – Noni prevents the absorption of LDL cholesterol, thus reducing plaque in arteries, keeping you healthy and alive longer.

7. Hypertension – Noni is high in phytonutrients, selenium, and vitamin C, which fight free radical damage on blood vessel walls; scopoletin, a compound that may lower blood pressure; it is alkaline, which keeps bodily fluids from becoming to acidic.

8. Irritable Bowel Syndrome/constipation – Noni is high in soluble fiber, which helps ease the strain on your intestines and softens stool. Also has necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your intestines healthy.

9. Memory – Noni prevents absorption of cholesterol by way of its large amount of phytosterols. This directly helps your brain stay healthier, and plaque does not build up in arteries feeding the brain, keeping it properly oxygenated.

10. Antibacterial/antifungal/antiviral – Noni has properties to fight infections comparable to that of prescription drugs. It contains anthraquinones, scopoletin, and terpenes, among others all work together to fight diseases.

The easiest, most efficient way I have found to process Noni is when they are really ripe. When ripe they are completely white, soft and smell like Parmesan cheese. Usually when they are fully ripe they fall to the ground.

After collecting the ripe Noni I process them immediately because they go bad very quickly and they don't smell very good so I prefer not to have them just sitting around.

The process

1. Throw the Noni in the blinder with about a cup of water. Blend well until the meat is completely liquified.

2. Strain out the seeds using any kind of strainer.

3. Poor strained liquid into ice trays & place in freezer.

After they are frozen you can use the Noni cubes in any smoothie or drink. Pineapple, banana and passion fruit are all good strong flavors to mix with the Noni. The Noni has a very strong distinct flavor that is most palatable covered up by other very sweet or sour flavors.

I hope you all enjoyed my first tropical fruit post!
I will be posting more 😉