Figs are abundant in health-promoting antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fiber, they include a lot of important minerals like potassium, iron, and calcium.A fully formed and ripe fig has a bell or pear shape on the outside and rich, juicy flesh on the interior. Dried figs are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins due to their concentrated nature.The fig tree is native to temperate Turkey, and it is now grown as a major commercial fruit in the eastern Mediterranean, the United States, and Spain. In many other places, it is also grown as a fruit tree in private gardens.On the inside of fig fruits, there are countless tiny club-shaped ovaries spreading towards the center hollow chamber. Caprifigs are pollinated in their native habitat by a tiny gall wasp insect that penetrates flower clusters through a small aperture at the top. They have a distinctly sweet flavor, a soft and chewy texture, and seeds that are slightly crunchy and edible.Fun Facts About FigsThe fig fruit is an amazing food source in terms of the nutrition that they provide. Figs can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways.They’re an awesome breakfast addition: fruit salad for the winter, porridge with figs, pistachios, and a quick berry compote, or simply serve figs as a dessert poached in juice or red wine.You can make sticky cinnamon figs baked in a ginger mascarpone sauce.The amount of phenolic compounds in fig is closely associated with its antioxidant potential.Darker figs have more compounds than lighter figs, according to studies, and the skin contains most of the content.Some fig types are pollinated by wasps, which die during the pollination process, therefore vegans avoid them. Because commercial figs are cultivated without wasp pollination, they should be safe to eat.Figs were utilized as an aphrodisiac by the ancient Greeks. It is associated with love and fertility and was once thought to be a sacred fruit.Figs are actually flowers that have been turned inside out. Hundreds of tiny flowers sprout from the inside of the fruit. The evidence is the luscious edible seeds.There are hundreds of varieties of figs, but only a handful are available in supermarkets, such as the sweet Black Mission figs and the pink-fleshed Adriatic figs.Figs are known to have multiple health benefits!Nutritional Facts About FigsFresh Figs are high in nutrition and are a great addition to your healthy diet.The calorie content of fig fruit is low. Fresh fruits provide only 74 calories per 3.52 oz (100 g). They do, however, contain health-promoting soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and pigment antioxidants, all of which contribute significantly to overall health and well-being.One fig can contain anywhere from 0.17-0.42 oz (5-12 g) of carbohydrate and 0.10-0.31 oz (3-9 g) of sugar, depending on its size and kind; dry or uncooked.Carotenes, lutein, tannins, chlorogenic acid, and other polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidants are found in fresh figs, particularly black mission. Their antioxidant value is comparable to that of apples 3.52 oz (100 g).Fresh figs are rich in anti-oxidant vitamins like vitamin A, E, and K. The phytochemical chemicals in fig fruit work synergistically to help scavenge damaging oxygen-derived free radicals from the human body, protecting us from diabetes, degenerative disorders, and infections.Promotes digestive health: Figs are a recommended food for improving gut health and toning your intestine.A diet high in fruits and vegetables, especially fresh figs, naturally raises potassium levels and is thus recommended for blood pressure management.In research into the effects of fig extract on animals, blood pressure levels were shown to be lower in both normal and hypertensive subjects due to the potassium. By decreasing blood pressure and blood fat levels, figs can help you improve your vascular health and reduce your risk of heart disease.Fresh figs are high in a B-complex vitamin group that includes niacin, pyridoxine, folates, and pantothenic acid. These vitamins operate as cofactors in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and iron all of which are beneficial to bone health are present abundantly in fresh figs.Figs are particularly high in calcium, containing 3.2 times more than other fruits, according to some studies. Figs are high in copper and iron.Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Iron is needed for red blood cell formation as well as cellular oxidation.Potassium can help to prevent calcium output in the urine, which is induced by a high-salt diet. This, in turn, aids in the retention of calcium in the bones, potentially lowering the incidence of osteoporosis.Fresh figs are naturally sweet. Research suggests that the natural sweetness is harmless to your body and the chlorogenic acid in figs may help lower blood sugar levels and regulate blood glucose levels in people with type two diabetes.Figs, which are naturally high in dietary fiber and packed with vitamins and minerals, can help you enhance the nutritional density of your diet and, as a result, help you lose weight.Facts About Dried FigsFigs are equally beneficial in their dried form. Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about dried figs!The fruit is frequently eaten fresh or preserved in some manner, such as dried or in a paste form.Turkey produces the most dried figs, followed by Iran, the United States, Greece, Spain, and Italy.Potassium is abundant in dried figs, which may help maintain normal muscular function. Fiber, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, copper, and manganese are all found in dried figs.They have the greatest fiber and magnesium content of all dried fruits. They’re also noteworthy for their phenolic content, which is an antioxidant.Dried figs are high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and calcium. They include antioxidants that aid in the elimination of free radicals and the prevention of oxidative stress, which causes age spots, wrinkles, and other blemishes. It gives the skin a suppleness.Dried fruits and vegetables are generally rich in fiber and serve as a good source of food, which aids in promoting feelings of fullness and preventing overeating and excessive snacking.Dried figs contain fiber, it is an amazing source of food that helps to control the release of glucose and insulin in the body. Diabetic patients should be aware of the high content of natural sugars in the dried fruit.The help in the restoration of balance and the prevention of hypertension thus preventing any kind of heart disease too. Very little amounts of salt and potassium are found in a dried fig.Figs are high in zinc, minerals, magnesium, and manganese, all of which are beneficial to reproductive health. Consuming figs in moderate and appropriate quantities would do a lot of good to your internal health.Facts About Side Effects Of FigsWe know how beneficial figs are for health but they do have a downside and can cause chronic diseases.Some fruits, such as figs, may cause cross-reactivity if you have a birch pollen allergy.Natural latex is also found in fig trees, some people develop a fig allergy due to this.Vitamin K, which is plentiful in figs, can cause blood-thinning medications to become less effective.Figs may cause intestinal discomfort or diarrhea due to their anti-constipation qualities.It will surprise you to learn that its warm nature can cause retinal bleeding, rectal bleeding, and even minor vaginal bleeding. In the winter, it’s best to avoid eating too many figs.Figs are densely packed with seeds, and if you swallow the seeds instead of chewing them they can be harmful to the liver. They clog the intestines even more since they are difficult to digest.Fig produces stomach discomfort and bloating because it is heavy on the stomach. Drinking aniseed water is thought to be the most effective approach to relieve pain.Although figs are beneficial to diabetics, their ability to lower blood sugar levels may be hazardous to others. Figs are not suggested for people who have trouble managing blood sugar levels.Did You Know…For figs, there are two seasons. The first takes place in late June, and the second takes place between August and October.It’s easy to recognize ripe figs. They maintain their structure and are not squishy, but they do give somewhat when pressure is applied.The figs are not ripe if they are too firm and do not respond to your touch.Unfortunately, figs do not ripen well after being collected, but you can leave them in a sunny window for a day to see if they soften a little more.Fresh, ripe figs should be stored in the refrigerator.It is recommended to eat about 2-3 figs per day.Figs contain flavonoid luteolin that suppresses the activity of inflammatory cells, hence they are anti-inflammatory.Figs are considered superfoods because, all-around, their nutritional value is quite remarkable. Hence add figs to your diet and reap their benefits!To keep your figs from bruising, place them in a bowl in the refrigerator. When kept cold, most figs will last several days. Figs can also be frozen for up to a year.
Figs are abundant in health-promoting antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and dietary fiber, they include a lot of important minerals like potassium, iron, and calcium.
