Photo Credit: by brandonmatzek, flickr.com
Figs, also known as anjeers to some, are a natural superfood with a variety of health benefits. According to a study, the typical American diet consumes figs in an extremely low amount. In fact, figs make up only 1% of all fruit consumed, despite their nutrient power punch. If you’ve never had a fresh fig, now’s the time to add them to your diet; especially since fig season is in full swing. These sweet fruits are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth, all while still being super good for you. They come in a variety of colors from purple to golden yellow and can be incorporated into pies, puddings, cakes, preserves, and eaten raw as a healthy snack. They can also be consumed dried when their season is up and found just about anywhere, including online.
7 Health Benefits of Figs
If it takes a bit to convince you to add something new to your diet, allow us to explain the numerous health benefits that come from consuming figs on a regular basis. There are plenty of heavy-hitting bonuses you get from this tasty little fruit. Some of the most prevalent include:
• Blood Pressure Regulation
Not only will taking a break in your day to enjoy the flavor of a fig calm your nerves, the potent mix of low sodium and high potassium in figs are a great defense against high blood pressure. Most people who end up with hypertension have high sodium/salt intake with low potassium.
• Weight Loss
Often recommended to people who are obese as a way to satiate a sweet tooth, figs are high in fiber (approx. 2.9 g), which helps reduce weight. However, because of their dense caloric count and source of nutrients, you don’t need to consume much to get the health benefits.
• Cardiovascular Health
Figs pack a punch against triglycerides, making overall numbers to drop after consumption. Because triglycerides are a major factor behind various heart diseases, getting those numbers into healthier levels can mean increasing overall cardiovascular health.
• Sexual Dysfunction
Figs have a long history of being thought of as a fruit that is a potent fertility and/or sexual enhancement supplement. This is thanks to the superfood value of all the vitamins and minerals bound in such a tiny package. It’s entirely possible for figs to boost your energy and sexual stamina.
• Prevents Constipation
The super-high fiber content in figs helps to promote healthy, regular bowel movements. The fiber in figs also works to add bulk and mass to bowel movements, which means when consumed in low quantities, it prevents diarrhea and unhealthy or irregular bathroom trips. It’s important to note, if too many figs are eaten, it can have a laxative effect, which can trigger diarrhea, however.
• Antioxidant Support
When you’re trying to reduce the damage on your body caused by free radicals, figs are where it’s at. In fact, they are incredible at removing toxins from the body. They are high in flavonoids and polyphenols, as well as have high levels of alkanes. This helps to regulate your pH levels and even treats a number of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Lowers Cholesterol
Figs are a natural source of pectin, a soluble fiber that keeps your bowels operating optimally. But more than that, when the fiber from figs move through your digestive tract, it carries excess clumps of cholesterol from the blood and helps it get eliminated from the body.
Some studies even suggest figs can help with neuroinflammation that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as treat bronchitis, respiratory ailments like asthma, vision loss from macular degeneration, and more. So, even if you’re not much of a fig fan, it’s worth giving this superfood a try.
Where to Get the Best Figs?
Did we convince you to give figs a try? Excellent. Figs can be found at most grocery stores and even some local farmer’s markets. The best time to get fresh figs is between early June through September. So, right now is the perfect time to get these delicious, sweet treats fresh from your produce section. However, there are plenty of great new companies who offer organic, dried varieties, all of which can be found online. Check out Nature’s Wild and Organic Sun-Dried Turkish Figs, for example. Just be aware that eating too many dried figs can cause diarrhea and they are also high in natural sugars, which could still potentially cause tooth decay.
Healthy Recipes to Try
Looking for a few easy ways to incorporate figs into your diet? You’ve come to the right place. Adding figs can be super easy by just eating them raw or getting some dried figs. But if you’re looking for more, here are two quick and easy recipes to test out.
RECIPE ONE: Milk and Figs for Sexual Enhancement
If you’re looking for a natural way to boost your sexual prowess, try soaking 2-3 figs in milk overnight. Eat them first thing in the morning and see how they affect your performance.
RECIPE TWO: Homemade Fig Bars
Who hasn’t had a fig bar (also known as Fig Newton in the US)? These chewy, tasty cookies can be made at home with just a few simple ingredients. If you have figs, honey, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and flour – you’re ready to rock and roll. Click here for the full recipe and get started.
RECIPE THREE: Fig & Balsam Jam
This one is another favorite of ours. If you love jam on toast or a dollop on top of your ice cream, get ready for your new favorite. All you need to make this delicious jam is figs, sugar, vinegar, peppercorns, and lemon juice. Click here to read the whole recipe.
If you’d like to get more health benefits from figs or try out more recipes, there are tons of posts using hashtag #figsbenefits on Instagram. As you can see, figs can offer some incredible health benefits when added as a regular part of your daily diet. If you’ve been looking for a superfood that’s nutrient dense and offers tons of unique health benefits, look no further. Instead, head down to your local produce section or farmer’s market and buy some figs today.
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