You’re probably privy to superfoods like chia seeds, kale and acai—they contain a larger amount of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants than other foods and help promote internal health and external beauty. But one under-the-radar superfood you may not have heard of, noni fruit juice, is having its 15 minutes of fame thanks to Miranda Kerr. The recently married supermodel told Well + Good that the rare superfood is responsible for her glowing complexion, which she dubs the “noni glow.”
“I’ve been drinking it since I was 13 years old,” she says. “It’s honestly been the key to my health and the reason my skin looks the way it does. Noni is such an incredible ingredient. It’s known for its healing and rejuvenating properties, and it’s an antioxidant with more than 100 vitamins and minerals in it.”
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New York nutritionist Brigitte Zeitlin, owner of BZ Nutrition, says, “Noni is a tropical plant native to the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Australia and India. Lots of research is still needed to validate some of the health claims that have been attributed to noni fruit; however, there has been research to show that it contains antioxidants that can fight signs of premature aging and can act as an anti-inflammatory agent. As an anti-inflammatory, this juice can help prevent your skin from being red, puffy and swollen, and instead, keep your skin clear, even, and radiant. The antioxidants in it can help to prevent signs of aging, which pop up on your face as wrinkles (hard pass!).”
In addition to the anti-inflammatory benefit, according to Zeitlin, perhaps the best skin benefit of noni fruit juice comes from its high amount of potassium. “Potassium deficiency can cause your skin to become dehydrated, dry and hard. Foods like noni fruit juice that are high in potassium help to maintain skin hydration and elasticity, keeping your skin dewy, fresh, soft, young and glowing.”
So where can you buy it and how can you consume it? “You can drink it as juice or tea, or take it in tablet form,” says Zeitlin. “It can be found at many health food stores in the supplement/tea section or with the juices, depending on the form you’re looking for. I recommend mixing about half a glass (4 ounces) of noni fruit juice with 8 ounces of sparkling water. You will cut the sugar in half, amp up your hydration status even more and cut the somewhat bitter taste of the juice on it’s own.” You can also find noni fruit powder, which can be mixed into water or your daily smoothie.
Zeitlin says to avoid noni fruit and its juice if you have kidney or liver problems, or are following a potassium-restricted diet. “If you are taking certain medications like blood-thinners or chemotherapy, it is also important to avoid this food.”
