Among the abundance of dried fruits on store shelves, figs are given less preference. But in vain! Many people do not know that the fig tree is simply a storehouse of useful substances and helps to organize the work of many processes occurring in the body. Let's figure out the benefits and harms of dried figs, which have been known for a very long time, and have gained leadership among dried fruits. What is contained in dried wine berries that grow on fig trees in the subtropics?
Let's look at the main valuable qualities of dried figs:
The calorie content of dried figs is 5 times higher than that of fresh ones, and is about 250 kcal per 100 grams.
The glycemic index of dried figs is 45-55 units.
The BJU of dried figs per 100 grams is: proteins - 3.1 grams, fats - 0.8 grams and about 57 grams of carbohydrates.
Dried figs preserve almost everything useful material that are present in fresh fruit, only the concentration is different. For example, dried figs contain 3 times more sugar than fresh ones. There is also more dietary fiber, but 4-5 times. And in terms of fiber content, figs are the leader among dried fruits - about 10%.
Also, dried figs contain vitamins: A, PP, vitamins B, C.
Minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese.
In addition, wine berries are rich in fatty polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, tannins, antioxidants, beta-carotene, rutin, and the enzyme ficin.
Dried figs can be included in the diet of children from 1 year of age in the absence of personal intolerance to the fruit. Figs generally do not cause allergies. Due to the large amount of glucose, you should give no more than one fruit per day. It’s better to divide one dried fruit and give it one piece at a time.
Dried figs are considered a worthy alternative to sweets and vitamin complexes. All children love sweets, and fruit also a large number of vitamins
Figs will help your baby overcome cold viruses faster. For a sore throat, a decoction of figs helps, and for a cough, fig fruits boiled in milk. In addition, dried fig tree has an antipyretic effect and strengthens the immune system.
It is useful for children to eat dried fruit to strengthen bones. Since kids are very active, mobile, and are not immune from injuries. Therefore, having a strong skeletal system is very important for a growing child’s body.
If a child suffers from constipation, then dried figs will help improve intestinal function, having a laxative effect and normalizing bowel function. digestive system.
IN eastern countries In women's homes, traditionally there were vases with dried figs on the tables. And for good reason. Even then, ladies understood that dry figs were very useful for them.
During menstruation, eating dried fig fruits can relieve pain, improve mood, and eliminate nervousness.
For those who are planning a child or have already become pregnant, it would be very good to consume the fig tree. It contains a large amount of folic acid, which is necessary for the intrauterine development of the fetus. If future mom If you get sick, it will be easier to recover with the help of dried figs, and you don’t need to take medications that are undesirable.
Dried figs are full of antioxidants that improve and rejuvenate the skin, strengthen nails and hair. It is believed that only 2-3 fruits up to 5 times a week can protect the legs from varicose veins, which affects many women.
Although there are a lot of sugars in dried figs, the diet contains proper nutrition You are allowed to eat 1-2 fruits every other day before lunch. This will help those with a sweet tooth who find it difficult to limit their consumption of sweets and cakes, because figs themselves are very sweet, and they contain many times more benefits.
Fig fruits, like many other dried fruits, are subjected to various processing methods, which can be unsafe for health. It is best to dry or dry fresh fruit yourself. But, as you know, fresh fruits have a very short shelf life, up to a day. Therefore, if you do not live in the southern regions, then it is important to know how to choose good, dried figs.
Dried figs should be stored in a dry, cool, dark place. For short-term storage, you can pour the fruits into a jar lined with cotton fabric, close the lid and put it in the kitchen cabinet. Periodically check for accumulated condensation and for pests.
For more long-term storage, you can choose a refrigerator in the fruit compartment. Transfer the dried fruits to any food container or jar and close the lid. You need to remember that you should not allow moisture inside, because the fig will simply become moldy, and also, in its dried form, it can absorb all the extraneous odors of the refrigerator. In such a place, wine berries are stored for about six months.
And the last way for long-term storage is to freeze dried figs. They will last for a year, but when thawed they will lose up to half of their beneficial properties.
Dried figs contain more moisture than dried, so it only needs to be stored in the refrigerator, in small portions, in jars with tightly closed lids. After all, it begins to deteriorate faster, rot, and various insects can appear.
Dried fruits can be found on store shelves all year round, so it is better to buy them before use.
In cooking, dried figs can be combined with both salty and sweet foods. It fits perfectly into salads, as a stuffing or sauce for poultry and lamb. It can be added to sweet cereals, muesli, cottage cheese, smoothies, desserts, and cake creams. You can make fig-nut butter to eat with biscuits, or make healthy candies from it.
There is a wonderful recipe for the heart and blood vessels, as well as boosting immunity and overall health. To do this, you need to mix dried fruits soaked in water in equal proportions: figs, dried apricots, prunes, raisins. Add nuts, honey and lemon juice. If desired, citrus zest. Grind everything in a meat grinder or beat in a blender until smooth. Take 2 teaspoons 3 times a day on an empty stomach.
Figs: history, types, distribution, composition and calorie content, health benefits, medicinal properties and contraindications. Photo.
Common fig, also known as fig, fig tree, wineberry, ficus carica, fig tree, is a subtropical deciduous tree reaching a height of 12 m. Figs usually produce two to three harvests per season, in summer and autumn. The color of the fruit varies from creamy yellow to dark red and black and blue, the taste ranges from sweet with sourness to sickly sweet, the shape is round and pear-shaped. The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of three, and can live 50-300 years.
History, types and distribution
The fig tree is one of the first crops domesticated by humans. IN Ancient Hellas it has been known since the 9th century BC, and in Ancient Egypt was considered sacred. How cultivated plant figs began to be grown in Arabia, and from there the tree was brought to Syria, Phenicia and Egypt. In America, the Carian ficus appeared only in late XVI century. By the way, this name comes from ancient Caria, a mountainous region in Asia Minor that is considered the birthplace of the plant. Today figs are grown in Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Greece, Krasnodar region, as well as in the Caucasus and Crimea, where the tree was brought by the Genoese. At the moment, about 1000 varieties of figs have been bred. They differ from each other in the method of pollination, yield, ripening period, frost resistance, shape and size of the fruit.
The most popular varieties figs: Blanche, Kadota, Chapla, Oglobsha, Azari, Hazari, Commune, Italian white, White Adriatic, Italian black, Dalmatian (Dalmatica), Yellow giant, Purple Sukhumi, Nikitsky aromatic, Sunny, Sochi-7, Fraga white, Sary- figs, Sary-lob (Smirnsky-2), Kalimirna, Muason, Honey (Crimean-41), Apsheronsky. Of the dried fruits, the light yellow Samarkand fig is considered the best.
Vitamin cocktail: composition and calorie content of figs
Figs are a fruit with jelly-like flesh and rich flavor, containing 14 minerals and 11 vitamins. Ripe figs have very tender and juicy pulp, and dried and dried fruits are quite hard; they need to be soaked or steamed before use.
Figs contain beta-carotene, vitamins C, E, PP and group B, and minerals - iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, sulfur, bromine. There is more iron in fresh fruits than in apples, and in terms of potassium content, figs are second only to nuts.
Figs are also a source of proteins, natural sugars, organic acids, dietary fiber, tannins, fiber, pectins and are extremely important for health fatty acids omega-3. The benefits of figs are also associated with the presence of antioxidants in it - polyphenols and flavonoids. In addition, ripe figs are an alkaline food, and in the diet modern man there is a significant lack of it. Based on the above, it can be argued that figs are ideal option for a snack, of course, if a person seeks to satisfy hunger quickly and beneficially for his body.
Calorie content of fresh figs: 74 kcal per 100 g. Nutritional value: carbohydrates – 12 g, proteins – 0.7 g, fats – 0.2 g.
Calorie content of dried figs: 257 kcal per 100 g. Nutritional value: carbohydrates - 57.9 g, proteins - 3.1 g, fats - 0.8 g.
Universal benefits: medicinal properties of figs
High cholesterol, hangover, cough, stress, excess weight– figs can cope with these and many other problems. Official medicine today values its medicinal properties as highly as ancient Greek healers did several thousand years ago.
For a cold
The benefits of figs for colds are explained by their antipyretic, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic effects. In the form of a decoction (in milk or water), fig tree fruits are used in folk medicine for inflammation of the gums, respiratory diseases, as a rinse for sore throat. Cough figs (4-5 fresh fruits, pour a glass of hot milk, soak and grind) can be given to small children: you need to drink this cocktail in 2-3 doses a day.
For gastrointestinal diseases
Figs are useful for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, liver diseases, and for the prevention of colon cancer. Its fruits have a mild laxative effect; they help improve bowel function without the use of medications. You need to take a couple of berries and soak them in water (if they are dry figs) or in milk (fresh fruits) and eat them on an empty stomach. Doctors also prescribe wineberry fruits for nephritis, urolithiasis and painful urination.
For cardiovascular diseases
Figs are good for hypertension, iron deficiency anemia and venous insufficiency, as it is rich in rutin and potassium, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels and the heart muscle. The enzymes contained in wineberries maintain normal blood composition, preventing it from thickening, and promote the resorption of blood clots in the veins. The amino acids that are part of figs help break down excess cholesterol in the blood.
For skin lesions
Figs accelerate the opening and healing of boils, abscesses, and ulcers: fruits steamed in milk are applied to the sore spots. Juice and infusion from fresh leaves Carian ficus perfectly moisturizes dry skin, removes pigmentation from vitiligo, removes warts, treats acne and other skin diseases.
Figs are high in fiber, which improves digestion and prevents excess sugar from food from turning into fat. Mexican scientists have found that figs, rich in carbohydrates, are, paradoxically, beneficial for type II diabetes. In addition, wineberry fruits perfectly satisfy hunger and help the body get rid of excess fluid. Due to the above, figs can be considered an ideal dessert for those who are watching their weight.
Figs during pregnancy
Beneficial features figs also apply to pregnant women. Rich in microelements and folates, fiber and ascorbic acid, wineberry fruits are simply irreplaceable for maintaining the health of the mother and her unborn baby. Figs are especially useful for women with excessive weight gain: healthy fruits You can replace harmful sweets and synthetic vitamins.
For the mood
Figs will be useful for people whose work involves creativity and mental stress. This sweet fruit, in addition to the healing effect, it is also able to elevate mood and strengthen memory, thanks to the potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamin B6 it contains. A breakfast of figs will help out those who had too much the day before: the fruits fig tree They cope well with thirst, nausea and dry mouth.
Contraindications
Figs, especially in dried form, are contraindicated in cases of severe obesity, gout (due to the high concentration of oxalic acid), pancreatitis, acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, impaired salt metabolism in the body and diabetes. Figs only bring benefits if consumed in reasonable quantities: no more than 100 g of dried and no more than 400 g of fresh fruits per day.
How to select and store figs
Fresh figs can be stored for no more than two days even in the refrigerator, which is why we more often see dried fruits on the shelves of domestic stores. High-quality berries are quite soft to the touch. Staleness of dried fruits can be indicated by spots, plaque on the skin, bad smell, excessive hardness. And one more secret: experts say that the smaller the fig tree fruits, the tastier they are.
The fig tree is considered a symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism and is mentioned in both the Bible and the revelations of the Koran. By biblical legend, it was the leaves of the Carian ficus that became the first “clothing” of Adam and Eve.
Invaluable health benefits, unusual taste, moderately sweet, somewhat reminiscent of honey, tender and fresh at the same time - all these advantages make figs a welcome guest on the tables of different nations peace. Cleopatra herself preferred it to other fruits, and the ancient Greeks awarded the winners with the fruits of the wineberry Olympic Games. Pamper yourself too healthy sweets and always be healthy!
In pursuit of beauty, youth and longevity, we forget about what nature has generously rewarded us with. It’s not for nothing that people say that everything ingenious is simple. This phrase clearly characterizes dried figs. The benefits and harms of these fruits cause a lot of controversy. This is what we will discuss in today’s article.
This is what people call fig fruits. This amazing fruit grows on fig trees mainly in warm regions with a subtropical climate.
The benefits of dried figs for the body are undeservedly underestimated by people. Most often, dried products are found on our tables and store shelves. This is due to the fact that during transportation, fresh figs quickly deteriorate, which cannot be said about dried or sun-dried figs.
To improve your health, you need to eat dried figs. The caloric content of dried fig fruits is approximately 257 kilocalories per 100 g of product. Of course, if you eat figs in unlimited quantities, this will cause significant harm to your figure.
But everything is good in moderation, especially since figs can easily be called a vitamin treasury. A huge amount of potassium is contained in the fig tree. Only nuts can fight in this duel with dried figs. But bananas fade into the background.
You can find many vitamins in fig fruits:
The fig tree is rich in fiber, which makes this product very valuable for the digestive tract. It is impossible not to notice the presence of beneficial fatty acids in figs, in particular Omega-3 and 6. Fig fruits also contain glucose, micro- and macroelements. The amount of the first depends on the form in which you consume the fruits - fresh, dried or dried.
The fig tree has enormous benefits for human health. Its unique component composition allows not only to enrich the body with the necessary vitamins, micro- and macroelements, but also to cure a number of ailments. Certainly, medical assistance and taking pharmacological medications cannot be ignored, but excluding dried figs from the diet is also stupid.
On a note! Dried figs, as already mentioned, are considered a high-calorie product, which cannot be said about fresh fruits. Their nutritional value is negligible and amounts to only 47-50 kilocalories per 100 g of product. You can eat such a dish without the slightest harm to your figure.
Some of the beneficial properties of the fig tree include:
Dried fig tree has the same properties. The fruits of the fig tree have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. Due to the high concentration of dietary fiber, processes in the stomach and intestines are normalized. Figs help solve such a delicate problem as constipation. There is also an opinion that dried or dried fig tree fruits increase potency.
What are the benefits of dried figs for women? It is the fairer sex who should pay close attention to this amazing product. Most women complain of brittle nail plates and excessive hair loss. Fig tree fruits will help solve this problem because they contain a high concentration of calcium.
During menstrual bleeding and premenstrual syndrome, figs should be on your table. The aroma and incredible taste of berries will help improve your mood, get rid of depression and irritability, and also relieve pain symptoms.
Important! Dried figs are especially useful during pregnancy, as well as during the period of planning conception. A large proportion of folic acid has a beneficial effect on the organs of the reproductive system.
Dried figs are no less useful for breastfeeding. During the lactation period, mothers follow a diet. That is why they often encounter disturbances in defecation processes. Fig tree fruits have mild laxative properties. In addition, the body can be saturated with vitamins, which is also beneficial for the baby.
Before introducing figs into your diet during pregnancy and lactation, you should consult a specialized doctor. Women suffering from diabetes mellitus are at risk, because the dried fruits described have a high concentration of sugar, which can lead to an exacerbation of the disease.
The beneficial properties of dried or dried fig tree for women include the following:
Dried fig fruits have a high calorie content, so this product should be consumed with extreme caution by people who are overweight. You should pay close attention to figs if you have allergic reactions. Intolerance to certain ingredients or hypersensitivity can provoke the development of unpleasant symptoms.
Such a product should be introduced into the diet with extreme caution in the presence of the following pathological conditions and ailments:
We have already found out how dried figs are beneficial. How to eat these dried fruits correctly? First, let's pay attention to the rules for their selection. Fig fruits should be approximately the same size and have a flattened shape. Color - from beige to light brown.
Before consumption, fig fruits are thoroughly washed with running water to eliminate the presence of fine particles dust, dirt or chemicals. It is recommended to soak dried figs in warm water within a few minutes.
Typically, dried fig trees are eaten in pure form or added to various desserts. But do not forget about the calorie content of the product being described.
Figs are one of the most mysterious foods. Not many people know that this is an inflorescence, and not a fruit, as is commonly believed. Those who are familiar with the gifts of nature prefer to enjoy them in all possible variations. Jam is made from figs, dried, dried, and eaten fresh. This raises many questions regarding the benefits and harms of treats.
The most valuable is potassium, which controls the functioning of the heart muscle and the entire vascular system. Dried figs contain a lot of carbohydrates, which explains the calorie content.
Natural saccharides are presented in the form of glucose and fructose. Figs also contain retinol, vitamin PP, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, pantothenic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin. Figs boast pyridoxine and folic acid.
Of the minerals, magnesium, calcium, iron, and sodium are considered the most valuable. Figs contain a lot of tannins, starch, coarse dietary fiber, organic acids, Omega acids 3 and 6.
The product is rich in phytosterols, antioxidants, proteins and fats. The composition contains little water, only 70% of the total volume. Although this is typical for many dried fruits.
During the heat treatment, the ratio of elements in the composition of the fig changes. The amount of protein increases by about 5%, while the amount of carbohydrates increases up to 68%.
The nutritional properties and calorie content of fresh figs are relatively low. For 100 gr. fruits account for about 48 kcal. It all depends on the degree of maturity of the raw materials.
As you can understand, figs are famous for their low calorie content, so they can be consumed without much concern about gaining extra pounds.
However, when it comes to dried figs, the situation becomes more complicated. In 100 gr. concentrated from 200 to 220 Kcal. This is 4 times higher than fresh fruits.
If you want to keep yourself in shape, do not overuse figs. Dried figs have a sweet taste, so you won’t eat too much of them.
Dried figs contain a rich vitamin and mineral complex, which is responsible for its benefits. The composition contains almost all the elements necessary for the full functioning of the human body.
The most ancient cultivated plant with multiple advantages and benefits for human body. The fruits of the fig tree are called wineberries, figs and even figs.
Women are recommended to pay special attention to this delicacy. For the female body there is a huge complex of vitamins and amino acids that not only help to stop age processes aging skin, but also to get rid of many diseases of a purely female nature.
Beneficial properties for women are a large amount of benzaldehyde, which in laboratory conditions shows resistance to the formation and spread of cancer cells.
Women who have been previously diagnosed with breast cancer are advised to take fresh berries fig tree, since the components slow down the growth of cancer cells.
However, along with many advantages The berry also has several disadvantages: high calorie content and in rare cases, with abundant consumption of fresh fruits, provoke exacerbations of urolithiasis.
Therefore, people who are prone to forming kidney stones. It is recommended to consume figs only in dried form in small portions.
First important quality figs are enough great content potassium electrolyte. That is why they have successfully learned to use it for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the nervous and peripheral systems, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems.
By consuming fresh or dried berries daily, you can stabilize and regulate blood pressure, normalize metabolism and speed up regeneration processes. Dietary fiber, which is also contained in large quantities in figs, helps normalize digestion processes, and the sweet taste is not a disadvantage of this fruit: fructose is absorbed very slowly, which makes it possible to use it for weight loss and weight normalization.
The only feature for people who want to adjust their weight is to eat dried berries.
Due to its multifaceted quality content, figs are used in the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory diseases.
The most popular fruit against sore throat and cough:
If the cough is severe, the dosage can be safely increased. Benefits for colds have been proven and tested.
Fig tree leaves will help get rid of any kind of itching. The juice contained in the leaves has antihistamine properties, which help eliminate itching both after a mosquito bite and against the background of nervous tension.
To use the sheet for the purpose eliminate itching you can use fresh juice from the leaf, and You can prepare an ointment:
Store the prepared ointment in the refrigerator and, if necessary, apply a thin layer to the skin. Can be used by both adults and children.
Dried berries are also used to treat goiter on the thyroid gland. To do this, you need to eat 4-6 dry fig fruits daily.
At the same time, you need to drink a decoction of dried fruits on an empty stomach:
If the patient does not have kidney stones, it can be used for the treatment and prevention of the kidneys and ureter.
Sweet figs, beneficial properties for women (for weight loss) are due to the high content of dietary fiber and beneficial amino acids. Despite the fact that the fruits are quite high in calories, they are often used for weight loss purposes.
It is best to replace fresh berries with dried or dried ones. A popular recipe for those who want to lose weight using figs:
Finely chop everything, top with yogurt and replace two full meals.
The benefits of figs for hair have been proven by many studies and observations. The antioxidants it contains slow down aging processes, reduce the risk of hair follicle destruction, and provoke and stimulate hair growth.
Hair Mask:
Grind the fig into a paste-like consistency. Mix all ingredients and apply to the entire length of hair. Keep the mask on for at least 40 minutes. Then rinse and wash well (until squeaky) with shampoo.
Uncomplicated diabetes mellitus allows you to consume fig tree berries in small quantity. If the form of diabetes is insulin-dependent, then the use of figs in any form is contraindicated.
This is because the fruits contain a huge amount of calories and glucose. If there is a lack of glucose, you can eat no more than 1 piece. this delicacy. It is preferable for diabetics to consume dried and dried delicacies in very limited quantities.
Fig seed oil is used as a wound healing and skin regenerating agent.
This oil is also widely used to treat ulcers and gastritis..
To prepare a compress for joint pain you need:
Mix everything and wet the preheated gauze bandage. Apply to the sore spot and wrap it up warm scarf. After 15 minutes the pain will begin to subside.
Tea helps restore the body's protective immune functions. During the ARVI epidemic, drink fig tea very helpful.
During pregnancy, it helps normalize the functioning of the digestive tract. The juice of figs and carrots is often used as a remedy for heartburn, and its use in dried form will help normalize intestinal function (prevent constipation).
However, do not forget about the calorie content of the product:
For the digestive tract it is used both in the form of a decoction and fresh. If there are diseases of the digestive tract(high or low acidity, ulcers, gastritis), you can use the decoction:
Such decoctions help improve the functioning of the digestive system without the use of medications and drugs. In addition, you should also eat steamed dried fruits; they contain a large amount of fiber, which helps improve intestinal motility.
The benefits and harms of figs for the male body are due to the presence of large amounts of amino acids and glucose.
Menopause for a woman is a difficult period associated with hormonal changes and negative external manifestations (sweat, fever, chills and irritability). Fresh figs contain a large amount of minerals, the action of which is aimed at normalizing metabolism.
Eliminate the cause of discomfort at the hormonal level, of course, will not be able to, but it will help improve the general condition:
Mix and take 1 tbsp. l. 4 times a day.
Dried fruits contain the same amount of beta-carotene and B vitamins as fresh fruits. But the glucose concentration increases. But even an increased amount of sweetness does not make the fruit less healthy.
The benefits of dried figs are due to a number of advantageous features, including:
Treatment can be not only tedious, but also sweet! This is the definition that applies to fig jam. Everyone knows the beneficial antipyretic properties raspberry jam. However, the fig delicacy is three times superior to raspberries! Jam can be made with whole fruits or have the consistency of jam.
For making whole jam you will need:
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