When it’s Ramadan, and you are fasting, you may get stomach issues due to the altered routines of Suhoor and Iftar. Well, the fig is your go-to fruit. Eat one fig, and say bye-bye to indigestion.
Figs benefits are immense. These are delicious, round, sweet fruit. It originated in ancient times and has been eaten a lot for its health benefits.
Here’s a fun fact. Well, scratch that, here are three fun facts regarding figs.
Allah has sworn upon figs in the Holy Quran. That’s a big deal, right?
Certain scholars feel that the fruit that Eve plucked wasn’t an apple, but a fig.
Fig was the favorite fruit of Cleopatra, the beauty Goddess of Egypt.
With such historical significance, figs’ benefits must be immense. Let’s get to know more about this tiny fruit, and what wonders it does for your health.
Table of Contents
Figs: A Little Background
Figs have been a symbol of prosperity and health since ancient times. They’re linked to Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility, and were offered to the god Bacchus in ancient Rome.
Figs, or Anjeer, are the fruit of the ficus tree, which belongs to the mulberry family.
Fresh figs are often mushy in the center with crunchy seeds. It’s a terrific fruit to eat because of its unusual texture.
When the seeds get more crunchy and the flesh dries up, fig becomes a dry fruit, and part of your nutty snacks.
Dried Anjeer is available all year round. They are frequently used as a natural sweetener in healthy diets as a substitute for table sugar.
Nutritional Values of Figs
Fresh figs are rich in nutrients while being relatively low in calories, making them a great addition to a healthy diet.
One small (40-gram) fresh fig contains:
- Calories: 30
- Carbs: 8 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Copper: 3% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Magnesium: 2%
- Potassium: 2%
- Riboflavin: 2%
- Thiamine: 2%
- Vitamin B6: 3%
- Vitamin K: 2%
Figs also contain small amounts of a wide variety of nutrients, but they’re particularly rich in copper and vitamin B6.
Figs Benefits for Your Health
Fig fruit benefits are great for your health. Here we have a list of the potential advantages that Anjeer has for you.
Promotes a Smooth Digestion
Figs relieve constipation and promote smooth digestion.
Soak 2 figs overnight in water, and eat them the next morning with honey, and the constipation is gone.
Figs are high in dietary fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements and cures constipation. It gives feces more weight and helps them travel more easily through the body.
The fiber in figs also relaxes the digestive system and relieves diarrhea.
To heal your digestive system, eat a high-fiber diet, and figs are a must-have because they make you feel full and prevent you from overeating.
Aids in Weight Loss
Figs are naturally high in dietary fiber and packed with vitamins and minerals.
They help you enhance the nutritional density of your diet and, as a result, help you lose weight.
High-fiber foods give you a feeling of fullness and can help you lose weight by reducing appetite and cravings, while important nutrients help you regulate your blood pressure.
Improves Heart Health
Figs help to improve your heart health by lowering triglyceride levels in your blood.
Triglycerides are fat particles found in the blood that are a major contributor to heart disease. The antioxidants in figs help to eliminate free radicals in the body, which can clog coronary arteries and lead to coronary heart disease
Figs also include phenols, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help to lower heart disease risk.
Helps Diabetics with High Sugar
Not just the fig fruit, but also the leaves, are beneficial to your health.
The extraordinary characteristics of fig leaves aid in the regulation of blood glucose levels. In insulin-dependent diabetics, putting fig leaves in the diet helps limit the rise in blood sugar after a meal, according to a study.
You can make tea from fig leaves by boiling 4-5 leaves in filtered water. You can also dry and ground these leaves into a powder.
Boil a liter of water with two tablespoons of this powder. Voila! Your tea is ready to drink!
Strengthens Bones
Figs are high in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which are beneficial to bone health.
Figs are particularly high in calcium, containing 3.2 times more than other fruits.
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.
Figs Benefits the Colon – Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Consumption of figs on a regular basis can help to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
The fiber in figs aids in the rapid elimination of waste in the body, which is beneficial in the prevention of colon cancer.
Figs have a lot of seeds, which contain a lot of mucin. Mucin collects waste and mucus in the colon and flushes it out.
Prevents Hypertension
When you consume less potassium and more sodium, it disturbs the sodium-potassium balance in your body, paving the way for hypertension.
Figs help restore the sodium-potassium balance as they are rich in potassium.
Gives a Boost to Sexual Health
Figs’ benefits for males are exceptional, as they are known as excellent fertility and sexual supplement.
Figs are high in magnesium, which is necessary for the production of the sex hormones androgen and estrogen.
Sterility, erectile dysfunction, and sexual appetite are among the conditions that figs can aid with.
They also create an amino acid that stimulates nitric oxide synthesis, which expands blood vessels and increases blood flow to all regions of the body, including the sexual organs.
To improve your sexual stamina, soak figs in milk overnight and eat them the next day.
Prevents Breast Cancer
Fig fruit benefits females as well.
Figs are one of the fruits that have the highest fiber content. Studies show that women who consumed more dietary fiber during their teens and early adulthood had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
Fig extracts and dried figs possess components that aid in the prevention of postmenopausal breast cancer.
Treats Asthma
Consuming a mixture of powdered fenugreek seeds, honey, and figs is an effective way to treat bronchial asthma.
You can also use fig juice to relieve asthma symptoms.
Figs help to relieve asthma symptoms by moisturizing the mucous membrane and draining mucus. They also include phytochemical components that fight free radicals, which might aggravate asthma in some people.
A Good Source of Energy
Adding figs to your diet is a sure shot way to increase your energy levels. The carbohydrates and sugar present in figs increase the percentage of energy in your body.
Benefits of Figs for Skin
Figs’ benefits for your skin are extraordinary and immense. Let’s have a look at what fig fruit does for your skin:
Prevents Wrinkles
The antioxidative and anti-collagenase effects of fig extract on wrinkled skin are great.
It also improves the moisture of the skin. As a result, figs may be used to treat hyperpigmentation, acne, freckles, and wrinkles.
Figs Benefits for Skin – Rejuvenation!
Figs are great for your skin. Whether you eat them or apply them as a mask, they make your skin beautiful.
Here’s a recipe for a mask.
Take one large fig or two small figs. Cut the fig in half and scoop out its flesh and mash it thoroughly. Add a teaspoon of honey or yogurt to it if you want to enhance the texture of your skin.
Apply the mask to your face and keep it on for 5 minutes. Wash it off with water and say hello to refreshed skin.
Treats Boils and Warts
You can apply a fig directly on the skin to bring down various forms of skin inflammation like boils and abscesses.
Makes Your Skin Soft and Supple
Vitamin C, found in abundance in figs, is a potent antioxidant that helps to brighten and even out skin tone.
To make a smooth paste, blend five figs together. Toss in a teaspoon of powdered oats, half a teaspoon of dried ginger powder, and a teaspoon of milk. To get a smooth paste, mix everything together thoroughly.
To acquire soft and smooth skin, use this face pack twice a week.
Anjeer Benefits for Hair
Conditions Your Hair
Figs extracts are used to create amazing hair conditioners.
These extracts provide moisture to the scalp and help in the detangling of hair. They moisturize the hair without making it heavy or weighed down.
Promotes Hair Growth
Hair loss is frequently caused by a lack of sufficient nutrition.
Figs include elements that encourage hair growth, such as magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
The necessary elements in the fig fruit help to increase blood circulation in the scalp, which speeds up hair development.
Wrapping Up!
The numerous benefits of figs make them ideal for a healthy diet. They are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
Figs can promote digestive, heart, and liver health. They also reduce the risk of cancer, lower cholesterol, and sugar levels, strengthen bones, and do so much more for you.
Add fig fruit to your diet, and get immense figs benefits. Consult a well-known dietician/nutritionist to know more about amazing things the dry fruits can do for you. Book an appointment via Healthwire.pk or call (042) 32500989.
