12 Surprising Health Benefits Of Figs

Loaded with dietary fiber, figs are an excellent constipation reliever. By soaking 2-3 dried figs overnight in water and consuming them with honey on an empty stomach in the morning, you can get instant relief from constipation.

Figs work as a natural laxative that refreshes and eases the intestines. Moreover, it relieves diarrhea and encourages a healthy digestive system. A fiber-rich diet is essential for developing smooth digestive health, and figs fit well in this situation.

The soluble fiber in dried figs keeps you full for a long time, which effectively helps to control cravings, leading to a healthy body weight. A handful, or 3 to 5 fresh or dried figs, supplies approximately 5 grams of dietary fiber, which amounts to 20% of the daily value.

Consuming high-fiber foods helps to decrease excess body fat. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consume the fruit in moderation, as it is high in calories. 2 to 3 figs a day are ideal for maintaining a balanced diet.

Figs may reduce triglyceride levels in the blood circulation and promote a healthy heart. Triglycerides are fat particles in the blood that cause heart disease. Additionally, the antioxidant in figs helps to remove free radicals that clog the coronary arteries, a leading cause of coronary heart disease.

Moreover, figs are rich in phenols, omega-6, and omega-3 fatty acids, which minimize the risk of heart disease. It is said that consuming six boiled figs per day for a month helps to maintain a healthy heart.

The massive amount of potassium in figs helps to control high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should follow a potassium-rich diet. It is a vital mineral that helps to diminish the adverse effects of sodium in the body.

Further, the potassium in figs revives muscles and nerve function, stabilizes fluid movement in the body, and assists balanced electrolytes. By controlling the blood pressure, the blood vessels get enlarged, and the blood circulation improves. Therefore, figs are great to add to a daily diet.

Figs are often seen as one of the top picks or ideal fruits for people with diabetes. The higher amount of potassium and magnesium in the figs helps to balance insulin production in the body and manage blood sugar levels. Moreover, potassium helps control blood sugar levels.

It is advised to incorporate high-fiber figs into a regular diet to stabilize blood sugar levels. Further, the leaves of the figs aim to reduce the requirement for artificial insulin for diabetic patients by motivating internal insulin production in the body.

Figs are tryptophan food, releasing melatonin in the body, which is responsible for regulating the sleep cycle and improving insomnia. Moreover, it raises the level of serotonin in the brain, decreases tension and anxiety, and improves sleep quality.

Furthermore, the richness of magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium in figs makes them a potent sleeping aid. These minerals help in proper blood flow and muscle contraction, which leads to sound sleep. Additionally, the fiber in figs keeps you full for a long time, reducing midnight cravings.

Figs are loaded with vital nutrients that advance the quality of bones and prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the degradation of bone quality, with the leading cause being a lack of calcium.

Figs contain calcium, magnesium, and potassium, essential minerals for better bone health.

Calcium is essential for strengthening bones, and figs are a great source. One dried fig provides 3% of the daily value of calcium. The increased loss of urinary calcium caused by a high-salt diet is handled by the potassium in figs.  This process prevents the bones from thinning out.

Lack of iron in the body causes iron deficiency, causing anemia. Some of its symptoms are tiredness, pale skin, headaches, and disturbed sleep. Dried figs are a high-iron food and an excellent channel for increasing the amount of hemoglobin in the body.

Iron deficiency is most common among children, pregnant women, adolescents, and menstruating women. They should monitor their iron intake to avoid difficulties. Figs are also great when you are sick or have undergone an operation, as they help to increase the level of iron in the body.

Figs are also great for your skin. Whether orally or tropically, it does wonders for your skin. Figs contain vitamin C, which helps to minimize the risk of skin melanin, trans-epidermal water loss, and sebum production.

For tropical applications, take one large fig, extract its flesh, and mash it. You may add some honey, yogurt, oatmeal, and milk to the mashed figs. Apply and leave it for five minutes, and the result is soft and supple skin.

Figs play an essential role in conditioning the hair. Their extract is used in many hair care products to moisturize the scalp and detangle the hair. Moreover, figs prevent hair loss.

Magnesium-rich foods, vitamin C, and vitamin E promote hair growth. These nutrients available in figs help to support adequate blood circulation in the scalp, which leads to increased hair growth. You can consume them or apply a fig-based hair mask for smoother, shinier, and stronger hair.

Apart from diverse health benefits, figs are said to contain powerful anti-cancer agents. The stem of the figs, when cut, releases a thick, milky latex that may contain anti-cancer effects, effective on liver and brain cancer.

The fig fruit latex includes polyphenolic compounds, a form of antioxidant that helps DNA synthesis, induction of apoptosis, and others.

Moreover, the latex attacks only the cancer cells. One study concluded that fig tree latex resulted in decreased growth of transplanted and spontaneous tumors in mice.

Macular degeneration is an eye disorder, primarily common in old age, that blurs the central vision. Including vitamin A-rich foods in a diet helps to enhance eye vision and decrease the chance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 3–4 dried figs per day reduce the risk of AMD.

Moreover, figs are great at fighting dark circles and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The vitamins and minerals also contribute to healthy eye functioning and protect against harmful light.

The nutrients present in figs may differ depending on their form. Fresh figs contain a high concentration of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B complex, and beta-carotene.

Whereas dried figs are high in calories, sugar, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Here is the breakdown of 100 grams of dried figs as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

• Energy: 249kcal
• Protein: 3.3g
• Fat: 0.93g
• Carbs: 63.9g
• Fiber: 9.8g
• Sugar: 47.9g
• Calcium: 162mg
• Iron: 2.03mg
• Magnesium: 68mg
• Potassium: 680mg
• Sodium: 10mg
• Zinc: 0.55mg
• Vitamin C: 1.2mg
• Folate: 9mg
• Beta-carotene: 6mg
• Vitamin A: 10 IU

Fruits are considered to be a vital source of nutrients. Be it in fresh or dried form, fruits have the potential to supply energy to the body. Figs are available in both fresh and dried forms. Fresh figs are available between June and September, while dried ones are available all around the year.

There are numerous types of figs present in different corners of the world. The following are some of the most common varieties of figs:

• Kadota
• Calimyrna
• Brown Turkey
• Adriatic
• Black' Mission
• Chicago Hardy
• Weeping Fig
• Conadria Fig
• Creeping Fig

Figs may possess some harmful effects on human health. An overdose of figs can deliver unnecessary side effects on the body, including:

• Fig leaves on the skin are considered unsafe.
• People with allergies, especially pollen allergies, should avoid figs.
• Due to the low quality of laxatives in figs, overeating might lead to diarrhea.
• The presence of oxalates might restrict the absorption of calcium in the body.
• Some people might experience blood discharge in the digestive tract due to high doses of fig latex.
• The seeds of the figs, when swallowed without chewing, might disturb the intestines, as they are difficult to digest.
• Figs might be beneficial for diabetic patients, but the nature of reducing blood sugar levels might be risky for others.

An overdose of everything works negatively for the body. Therefore, to get the maximum benefit from figs, it is recommended to consume them in moderation.