Health Benefits of Figs

Figs are a delightful, sweet-tasting fruit that emerged in the Middle East from earlier civilizations. They're also among the first-ever grown plants. Figs have also deemed a delicacy of the home garden as they flourish in moderate winter environments, and it is convenient for amateur gardeners to cultivate them at home.  

Figs are to be found in several forms. Of course, you can buy them fresh, but their harvest time is really short. But they are a small fruit that is extremely perishable, so they don't move as far as other food. Therefore, you see them being transformed into other forms. Dried figs are simple to find and normally have no added sugar. They are very nutritious and tasty, no matter what shape you find them in.

Health Benefits of Figs

The following are the important benefits of figs:

Improved Gastrointestinal Health

Figs reduce constipation and boost digestive health generally. Fiber is useful for digestion, and the figs are filled with dietary fiber, which helps to pass the intestine healthily and alleviates constipation. It helps in adding bulk to the stools and facilitates their smooth body movement. Even the fiber in figs reduces diarrhea and relieves the whole digestive system. What you need to achieve a healthy gut is a diet rich in fiber.

• Enhanced Cardiovascular Well-Being

Figs decrease serum triglyceride concentrations and further improve the cardiac function. Triglycerides are fat molecules and are a significant cause of cardiovascular disease in the blood. Besides, the antioxidants in figs dispose of the body's free radicals, which obstruct the coronary arteries and worsen cardiac failure.

• Reduces Cholesterol

The figs comprise of pectin, a soluble fiber responsible for reducing cholesterol levels. The fiber in figs cleans the nervous tract of excess cholesterol and brings it to the intestines to replace it. Figs also consist of vitamin B6, which produces serotonin. This serotonin improves morale and decreases cholesterol.

• Prevention of Colon Cancer

Frequent fig intake will reduce the likelihood of colon cancer. The fiber in figs helps to rapidly remove the body's waste and functions well enough to deter colon cancer. The various seeds in figs carry sufficient mucin concentrations that accumulate and filter out waste and mucus in the colon.

• Treats Anemia

Iron scarcity in the blood can cause anemia due to iron deficiency. Dried figs contain iron, a primary constituent of hemoglobin. Eating dried figs has been shown to increase blood hemoglobin levels. Specifically, growing infants, teenagers, menstruating women, and pregnant women should control their iron levels to prevent health problems.

• Effective Treatment for Diabetes

Both the fruit and the leaves of figs provide valuable advantages for you too.  Figleaves have incredible properties that help control blood glucose levels. As per one research, in insulin-dependent diabetics, using fig leaves in the diet helped regulate blood sugar increases following a meal.

• Breast Cancer Prevention

Figs are among those fruits which have the highest fiber content. And females who ate more dietary fiber during puberty and young adulthood were reported to be at a lower risk of falling victim to breast cancer. Fig extracts and dried figs include traces of components which help to avoid postmenopausal breast cancer.

• Improves Bone Health

Figs consist of calcium, potassium, and magnesium and all contribute to bone health. Figs increase bone mineral density and reduce bone loss, which coincides with aging. Calcium is important for the preservation of healthy bones, and figs are one of the strongest suppliers.

• Treatment for Asthma

A successful approach for dealing with bronchial asthma is drinking a combination of ground fenugreek seeds, oil, and figs. Fig juice can also be drunk to get relaxation from asthma. Figs moisturize the mucous membrane to remove the mucus so as to relieve the effects of asthma. They also produce phytochemical constituents that combat free radicals and cause asthma.

• Decrease Throat Discomfort

Figs are rich in mucilage, which is healing towards throat infection and protects it. These fruits are calming to the lungs, and their natural fluids in the vocal cords ease discomfort and tension. Figs are good therapy for tonsillitis too. They aid in reducing the pain and inflammation caused by the disease.

• Cure for Piles

Piles are better handled with dried figs. They loosen stools and reduce rectum stress. Consume these by soaking three or four figs in water two times a day. You should still drink the water that soaks them in. The seeds in the figs are an effective agent that battle against the piles.

Soak the figs in a cup of water before cooking them for about twelve hours. Consume them in the afternoon, and then in the evening. Eating figs fit well when you resume your day and finish it with the same.

• Reduces Insomnia

A healthy diet is crucial to maintaining proper health. Having figs in your diet will make your sleep easier. They include the amino acid tryptophan that usually produces melatonin in your body, which causes sleep. Figs further include omega-3 fatty acids, which help you get a good night's sleep.

The tryptophan found in figs helps to synthesize your body's vitamin B3, which holds insomnia in check. Your body's deficiency in vitamin B3 leaves you nervous and anxious, which can ruin your night! Figs are high in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency in the body creates stress and restlessness, which leads to insomnia.

• Promotes Healthier Skin

Figs are nice for the skin. It does make your skin radiant if either you eat them or use them as a mask. Figs contain a large percentage of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that helps to make the skin tone smoother and even out.

Mix five figs together to produce a paste of fine consistency. Apply one teaspoon of ground oatmeal and one-half teaspoon of ground ginger powder. Mix it all nicely together to create a smooth paste. To get moist and shiny skin, use this face mask two times a week.

• Improved Hair Health

Figs are very common in the hair care business, and they use their extracts to make fantastic hair conditioners. These extracts supply the scalp with moisture, which aids in hair detachment. They moisturize the hair without it being sticky or skewed.

Hair loss is typically caused by a lack of adequate diet. Figs provide body-friendly vitamins and minerals that support hair growth such as magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin E. In this fruit, the vital nutrients promote blood supply in the scalp to boost hair development.

Nutritional Value of Figs (100 grams)

Calories in Figs and their Recommended Daily Intake

There are 209 calories in 100 grams of dried figs, and the recommended daily intake is 3 to 7 figs.

Ways to Consume Figs

There are a variety of ways to incorporate figs into your eating habits, each with possible benefits on its own. New figs are lower in calories and are an ideal complement to salads or sweets, allowing it a perfect snack. Fresh figs can also be used to make fig jelly or jams. Dried figs are rich in calories and sugar, so consume them in moderate amounts.

They could be more beneficial than fresh figs at curing digestive problems. Even if fig leaves can be hard to find outside of specialty supermarkets, fig leaves are nutrient-dense and can be utilized in a number of aspects. They are also used in the same manner as grape leaves as a cover for meat, vegetables, or other fillers. Fig leaf tea consists of dried fig leaves.

You should produce it yourself, or shop online or in specialized shops, premade fig leaf teas. You can appreciate figs in a lot of ways, but you can only consume dried figs in moderate amounts or utilize them as an every now and then as a home remedy for indigestion because of their high glycemic index.

Side Effects of Fig Consumption

There are some possible disadvantages to figs. For example, figs may induce diarrhea or other digestive issues, since they are often used as a home cure for constipation. Figs are also reasonably high in vitamin K, which can compete with drugs that thin the blood and make them less efficient.

When you are on a blood thinner, you can regularly maintain your consumption of figs as well as other similar Vitamin-K-rich foods from day to day to reduce the chances of health problems. Any individual can potentially be allergic to the figs. If you happen to be allergic to pollen, you may also be more prone to developing a fig allergy. Fig trees also produce natural latex and may be allergic to certain people.

Final Word

Figs have a number of possible health benefits to them. Especially dried figs can help alleviate constipation. That being said, because of their vitamin K content, figs can interfere with blood-thinning medicines, and dried figs should be consumed in moderate amounts due to their higher amount of sugar. However, fresh figs, fig leaves, and fig leaf tea, in general, make excellent additions to a balanced diet.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/figs-benefits#benefits

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3169356/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22618081/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5149042/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4090508/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30884655/