Useful properties and contraindications of figs
Figs and its beneficial and healing properties, composition and calorie content

Figs (he is a fig tree, he is a fig tree, he is a wine berry) - deciduous subtropical tree of the mulberry family. Its historical homeland is Asia Minor, but now figs are spread throughout the Mediterranean.

In our country, it is cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. Figs is considered one of the most ancient cultivated plants.

Its fruits are of great value. - sweet juicy stems with a lot of seeds-nuts.

The rich chemical composition of fresh and dried fruits, calorie

Fresh figs are rarely found on store shelves. The fact is that the stability and transportability of these fruits leaves the best to do.

They should be consumed within 6 hours after collection.otherwise the fig is spoiled. That is why even in antiquity people learned to dry figs.

Dried figs - an exceptionally nutritious product. No wonder they stockpiled the warriors of Alexander of Macedon, going on a campaign.

The caloric content of figs per 100 g of dry fruits is 257 kcal. Of these, 12.4 kcal falls on proteins, 7.2 kcal on fats, and 231.6 kcal on carbohydrates.

Sugars in figs very much. Fruits of some varieties can contain up to 70% glucose and fructose.

Vitamin composition of figs varies - content in fresh and dried fruits is different:

Vitamins Fresh fruit Dried fruit
vitamin C 2 mg —
vitamin A 7 mcg 7 mcg
vitamin E 0.11 mg 0.3 mg
vitamin b1 0.06 mg 0.07 mg
vitamin B2 0.05 mg 0.09 mg
vitamin b5 0.3 mg —
vitamin b6 0.11 mg 0.08 mg
folic acid 6 mcg 21 mcg
vitamin PP 0.4 mg 0.7 mg

Thus, some vitamins are lost when drying figs (C, B5), the content of others, on the contrary, increases.

Of the mineral substances in fig fruits they find:

  • sodium;
  • potassium;
  • calcium;
  • magnesium;
  • iron;
  • phosphorus.

In terms of the amount of useful potassium, figs are a champion and are second only to nuts.

Unripe fruits of figs cannot be eaten. They contain very pungent milky sap. With this "milk" in the old days they removed warts and treated acne.

How to choose a fig, how much to store, what are its useful properties, tell the program “To live is great!”:

The benefits and useful properties of figs

Record potassium content It makes figs especially valuable for people suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Namely, vascular disorders cause a number of diseases in both men and women.

For the body of men

Vascular lesions, hypertension and heart disease often cause erectile dysfunction.

The usefulness of figs for men was well known in the East in antiquity. To improve the potency used the fruits of golden figs with milk and saffron.

Figs and helps for the prevention of early heart attacks and strokes in men. He also quickly restores mental and physical strength during hard work.

For women's health

The fruits of figs solve a serious vascular problem, familiar to many women - varicose veins.

With swelling of the legs and cramps of the calf musclesthat lovers of high heels often suffer from, dried figs relieve unpleasant symptoms. This is due to the lack of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

The ability of figs to improve the regeneration of skin cells is beneficial for women who care about their appearance. Fresh fruits can be used in the diet for weight loss and detoxification of the body.

Figs useful for potency, prevention of heart attacks and strokes, swelling of the legs and varicose veins
Figs useful for potency, prevention of heart attacks and strokes, swelling of the legs and varicose veins

Can children eat?

In the absence of allergies, figs can be safely given to children. This valuable product improve digestion and baby's appetite, will become a useful source of energy.

Fig is rich in folic acidnecessary for children for the normal development of the immune, nervous and circulatory systems.

To cover the daily need for this “vitamin of joy”, it’s enough to give a child several dried figs a day.

Usefulness during pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant women can eat figsif there are no individual contraindications. The vitamin-mineral complex contained in these fruits will provide the future mother's body with everything necessary for the formation of the fetus.

Good combination of iron and folic acid prevent the development of anemia during pregnancy. A large amount of fiber normalizes digestion.

However, if a woman is gaining weight heavily, it is better to eat fresh figs, which are low in calories.

Figs tend to stimulate lactation, therefore, can be used during breastfeeding.

At the same time care should be taken and measure: the use of large amounts of figs by the nursing mother can cause colic and bloating in the child.

In pregnancy and lactation, figs are also beneficial for children, as they contain iron and folic acid.
In pregnancy and lactation, figs are also beneficial for children, as they contain iron and folic acid.

Medicinal properties of fruit and leaves

Over the millennia of the use of the fruits of figs, traditional medicine has accumulated a great deal of knowledge about its healing properties. Avicenna mentioned it in his treatises.

And to this day Figs are used by naturopaths to treat many diseases.:

  • bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia (to relieve cough);
  • pharyngitis, tonsillitis (for gargling and lowering the temperature);
  • constipation (to stimulate intestinal motility);
  • depression (to increase the tone);
  • anemia (to increase hemoglobin levels);
  • hypertension (to relieve vasospasm and as a diuretic);
  • inflammation of the genitourinary system (as a diuretic);
  • thrombosis, thrombophlebitis (to thin the blood).

The already mentioned warriors of Alexander of Macedon used dry figs to prepare a wound healing drug.

In addition to the fruits in traditional medicine successfully used green leaves of the fig tree. They are used to treat boils, boils and eczema.

Fig leaves serve as raw materials for the manufacture of the drug "Psoberan", with which vitiligo is treated.

Figs - from a hundred diseases:

Harm and contraindications

Fruits of figs are not equally useful for all, they can be harmful to some. People should refrain from using it.suffering from the following diseases:

  • hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcers;
  • diabetes;
  • gout;
  • pancreatitis;
  • inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

Allergic reactions to figs are rare, because figs have very few essential oils. But for people prone to allergies, it is better to treat figs carefully and eat its fruits in minimal quantities.

Do not eat figs if you have gout, diabetes, an ulcer or pancreatitis
Do not eat figs if you have gout, diabetes, an ulcer or pancreatitis

Delicious homemade recipes

From the fruit of the fig tree at home, you can prepare a lot of tasty and healthy drinks and delicacies.

Milk-fig cocktail. For 300 ml of milk, take 4 washed dried fruits, and boil them in milk for several minutes. Put the figs in a blender, add 1 tbsp. l honey and 4 tbsp. l chopped walnuts.

All chop and beat, gradually adding milk.

Figsar. Take 200 g of dried apples, 6 dried figs and 6 prunes. Rinse the dried fruit and soak in warm water for an hour.

Throw in a colander, move to boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and insist for an hour. Serve a drink with honey.

Fig fig for winter. Fresh figs wash, remove the stem and blanch for 5 minutes, then lower the fruit into cold water. Spread them in banks.

Cook the required amount of syrup at the rate of 300 g of sugar and 3 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water.Pour figs with hot syrup, pasteurize at 85 ° C and roll up.

Figs, baked with camembert cheese:

Fig jam. Wash fresh ripe fruits thoroughly, cut off the stem and fold into a container. Cover figs with sugar. The weight ratio of fruits and sugar is 1: 0.7. Cover the container and leave for 3 hours to give figs juice.

Place the container on a small fire, bring to a boil, remove the foam and boil for 5 minutes with constant stirring. Remove from heat, cover with a towel and let stand for 10 hours.

Then repeat the process again: boil, boil for 5 minutes and let stand 10 hours.

At the final stage, boil the jam, boil for 10 minutes, add lemon juice to taste and a little vanilla. Remove from heat, dispense in sterilized jars and close.

Warm milk with fig jam relieves cough and sore throat.

How much and how to eat?

Figs must be fresh and fully ripe. - only in this case, it will benefit health.

The color of the skin of the “right” ripe fig, depending on the variety, is purple, burgundy, yellowish, etc. The flesh of fresh figs is tender, jelly-like, the smell is pleasant, without acid.

If the fig smells sour, it is not necessary to eat it - the fruit has spoiled.

Rules for the use of fresh figs:

  • before eating the fruit carefully, but gently wash;
  • peeling is not necessary, you can eat with it;
  • if you do not like the skin, the fig is cut in half and only the flesh is eaten;
  • Figs can be given to the child by scooping up the pulp with a teaspoon.

Before serving, figs are beautifully cut into slices, pour with yogurt, sprinkle with nuts. Culinary use of figs is not limited to desserts.

Figs must be fresh and fully ripe, if the figs smell sour, you do not need to eat it - the fruit is spoiled
Figs must be fresh and fully ripe, if the figs smell sour, you do not need to eat it - the fruit is spoiled

These fruits are great with meat, and you can use them for stuffing duck or turkey, for cooking Mediterranean salads with mozzarella, asparagus, sweet peppers, pomegranates, nuts.

Figs - a fruit that has many advantages. It is nutritious and healthy, has a number of medicinal properties, rarely causes allergies and has almost no contraindications.

The use of figs in cooking allows you to diversify the menu and add a savory oriental note to it.