Noni Fruit is Packed with Health Properties

Least did we know back  then that we had a tree growing in our backyard which I now know is packed with goodness. Mother warned us not to touch those fruits as she thought that they  were poisonous. She only used the bark of the tree when anyone suffered from biliousness.

The Noni fruit is reported to be having many health benefits although we have had this tree for years and never took advantage of the fruits that grow abundantly. Just a search for the word ‘Noni’ on the Net will bring up thousands of pages talking about  its praises.  Fermented Noni fruit juice is available in bottles now  and marketed the world over. It is taken by diabetics to keep their health in control. The bark of the tree is also used to make a decoction which is reported to cure liver ailments.  These days many are preparing the juice without fermenting the fruit.

Here is a link on how to prepare Noni Juice

http://www.livestrong.com/article/19178-prepare-noni-fruit/

The only bad thing about the Noni fruit is  that it stinks when it is fully ripe. It falls to the ground and the smell is unbearable. We bear it only for the sake of the birds who enjoy the fruit – a fully ripe fruit is their choice.  Among the several birds that visit our garden the cuckoo seems to like this fruit the most. We find several cuckoos perched on this tree spending time keeping each other company Their chirps are music to one’s ears They have different chirps for different occasions. We know it is mating time when we hear those long chirps. Their mating season is now.

This cuckoo that you see in the image is perched on the Noni tree and is eyeing the fruits that it sees.

Birds know more about fruits than we human beings. Despite the rotten smell they relish the noni fruit. They will wait for the fruit to be fully ripe and then enjoy them.