We all know that figs are the great source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. In this article, we will discuss some interesting facts about figs and amazing health benefits of figs.
Some Interesting Facts About Figs
- Figs are popularly known as ‘the poor man’s food’ in the Mediterranean countries.
- They are helpful in reducing fever, and body temperatures.
- Combine Fig juice with honey as a remedy for hemorrhages.
- This multipurpose fruit can be used in various recipes like pies, cakes, puddings, jams and preserves.
- They come with abundant bioactive compounds that help in boosting good health.
- It is a rich ingredient of organic acids like oxalic acid, malic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, quinic acid, and chlorogenic acid.
- The varieties of Figs include Black Genoa, Brown Turkey Mission, Kadota, Calimyrna, and Adriatic Figs.
Figs (Anjeer) – A Complete Nutrition Package
Dry fruits have played an important role in boosting the health along with providing the dishes a delicious flavor. Have them raw, or add them to sweet dishes, they are always loved for the abundant nutrition they provide you with. A similar dry fruit, which is quite admired as a health booster, is Anjeer or Figs.
Figs are believed to be one of the oldest fruit cultivated by the human beings. Though the fruit is best eaten as a fresh flesh fruit with fresh juice texture, it is not available throughout the year. Hence, it is dried and preserved as a dry fruit for using it anytime. The crunchy seed it provides you with makes it a prime ingredient in salads, decorated with rocket leaves, vegetables, nuts, and cheese.
The Figs come with bundles of nutrients like Vitamin A, B1, B2, Manganese, Calcium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Chlorine, Potassium, Iron, Saturated Fats, Dietary Fiber, Proteins, Selenium, Omega fatty acids and much more, which makes it a healthy ingredient for getting rid of various health disorders.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Figs (Anjeer)?
Figs are the healthiest dry fruits, which are quite fleshy and sweet in taste. As they come with various nutrients, they are also beneficial for several health issues. They not only heal a range of disorders but are also helpful in prevention from ruinous diseases.
Here are some hidden health benefits of Figs that might encourage you in including it in your diet.
1. For Improving Your Digestion
Anjeer is a rich source of dietary fiber, which is quite important to boost your digestive system. Figs have a feature of natural digestion, which helps in reducing constipation problems. It is also beneficial for other digestion related issues like irritable bowel syndrome. The fiber it provides you with helps in maintaining movements of the bowels, hence, leading to a happy digestive system.
2. Helps You Reduce Weight
Figs contain dietary fiber and are low in calories. This makes it a good ingredient for those looking for weight loss diets. The high amount of fiber it gives you has a great effect on the managing weight. When you include figs in your diet, it makes your tummy full with less intake, and hence, it is the best source in include in your weight loss diets. Nevertheless, figs are also high in calories, so, it is recommended to have in a limited quantity, as it may result in weight gain.
3. Protects You From Hypertension
The excess intake of sodium in your body leads to the imbalance in the levels of sodium-potassium, which results in hypertension. To maintain the balance of sodium and potassium in your body, anjeer is the widely suggested ingredient. This ideal fruits helps in controlling the quantity of sodium in your body, reducing the chances of hypertension.
4. Reduces The Chances Of Heart Diseases
Figs contain antioxidants, which aid in reducing the free radicals in your body that damage the blood vessels. The damage to the blood vessels leads to heart diseases, which can be prevented with the help of anjeer. It also prevents you from hypertension, which is the prime reason for the growth of coronary heart disease. Adequate intake of dry figs also reduces the triglyceride levels, beneficial to prevent from heart disorders.
5. Helps In Prevention From Cancer
The dry figs give you bundles of antioxidants, known as phenols, which help in protecting against the damage caused to the DNA cells. It protects the cellular DNA cells from the free radicals, which are the basic reason for the rise of cancer, post-menopausal breast cancer, hormonal imbalances, abdominal cancer, colon cancer and much more. The antioxidants and fiber in dry figs work on the free radicals and prevent you from cancer.
6. Effective For Healthy Bones
Did you know that having dry figs would give you required amount of daily calcium. Similar to other calcium rich ingredients, it improves the health of your bones, by strengthening them. It works effectively when taken with milk. It also works on problems like osteoporosis and degradation of bones. It also includes phosphorous, that helps in the formation of bones, and helps the spurs to grow again.
7. Helps In Controlling Diabetes
Are you suffering from diabetes! Well, figs would work magically in controlling it for you. Figs are full of polyphenols, antioxidants and flavonoids, which are widely used in the treatment of diabetes. The flavonoids come with properties that help in controlling the glucose and oxidation metabolisms that control diabetes as a whole. The figs are also rich in sugar, and hence, before beginning with it, you should consult the doctors for an ideal intake quantity.
8. Helps In Curing Anemia
Anemia is a disease that takes place due to the deficiency of iron in the body. Anemia also disturbs the hemoglobin levels in your body, and imbalances the counts of white blood cells and platelet. Whether you select fresh figs or dried figs, both carry equal amount of iron that is required on daily basis. The iron and protein it provides you with helps in the formation of hemoglobin cells, which reduce the chances of anemia.
9. Enhances Your Reproductive Health
Figs were used as an organic aphrodisiac according to the ancient Greek healing literature. Figs are precious fruits that help in increasing fertility and love. Figs are filled with minerals such as manganese, zinc and magnesium that are important for boosting the reproductive health for both male and female. The teenage girls are widely recommended to have figs in their diet with milk to cure PMS issues.
10. Reduces Cholesterol Levels
Anjeer contains a soluble fiber, pectin that works through the digestive system, and removes the excess cholesterol deposited in the body. It eliminates them through the excretory system, which helps in the healthy movement of the bowels. Have a limited amount of figs in your diets, and get rid of the unwanted extra cholesterols.
11. Prevents From Pre-Menopausal Breast Cancer
As mentioned above, the fiber levels in figs help in dealing with cancer. Similarly, it helps in protection against breast cancer in women after menopause. The hormonal imbalance in women after menopause affects the immune system, which allows the free radicals to develop. Figs help in boosting the immune system that helps in fighting against the development of such cancer.
12. Bronchitis And Asthma
This is one of the another surprising health benefits of figs. The natural chemicals in anjeer carry natural compounds which are beneficial for improving respiratory problems like bronchitis and asthma. It is also recommended to the patients suffering from asthma and other respiratory issues.
13. Helps In Correcting Sexual Dysfunction
Since several years, figs have been helpful in correcting the sexual dysfunctions like endurance, sterility, erectile dysfunction, etc. As it is a fertility booster, it is advised as a sexual supplement, as it increases the energy and stamina with the help of the vitamins and minerals it comes with.
14. Works As A Tonic For Preventing Macular Degeneration
A common problem faced by people of older age is macular degeneration, which basically affects the vision. This is the prime stage leading to aging problems. Figs are helpful in preventing such problems like the weakening of vision, wrinkles, etc.
15. Helps In Throat Infections
Figs gift you with adequate mucilage elements, which are helpful in fighting against infections caused due to sore throat. The natural juice obtained from figs gift you with smoothing benefits that reduce the pain and stress on the throat or vocal chords. Having figs with a glass of milk, would surely work in case of stubborn coughs.
16. Skin Benefits Of Figs
Figs are not only helpful for improving the health of various patients, but the elements obtained from figs are helpful for various skin problems too. It is a natural ingredient that helps you to stay beautiful and young inside and outside. They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which keep your skin moisturized from inside. It is also helpful in skin problems like boils, acne, abscess, pimples, corns, psoriasis, etc. It removes the dead skin cells and brings out your natural glow due to the quantity of enzymes present in it. It is also best to heal your cracked lips giving you smooth lips.
17. Hair Benefits Of Figs
The delicious fruits contain various Vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and other compounds, that are helpful in natural treatment for hair problems like hair fall, scalp problems, etc. The nutrients received from Figs help in the promotion of hair growth, giving you a healthy scalp. They naturally condition your hair, removing the excess oil and water from the scalp and hair. They help in maintaining the color of your hair, and prevents from hair greying.
Thus, we have seen health benefits of figs. Hence, whether you select figs as a fruit, dry fruit or in the form of oil, figs have always been beneficial for maintaining the health of the user, along with curing their health, hair and skin problems.
Beware! Figs Come With Some Side Effects Too
Yes, just as the over consumption of any ingredient is hazardous to the health of the user, the over consumption of figs is also harmful. There are people who are allergenic to figs, and hence, they face few common side effects.
1. Heavy For Your Stomach
Having a moderate amount of figs is no doubt good for stomach problems like constipation, smooth removal of stools and much more. However, the excess intake of figs would be heavy for your stomach, as it would affect the digestive system, leading to stomach issues like stomach pain. In case you have had more figs, you can have cold water on it to avoid stomach discomfort.
2. Gas and Bloating
The heavy consumption of figs also results to stomach issues like gas, bloating, loose stools, and much more. It is hence, recommended to have the limited amount of figs in your diet, so gain the benefits avoiding gas and bloating.
3. Makes Your Skin Sensitive To The Sun
The figs are used in healing various skin problems, and also in reducing the chances of skin tumors. They carry antioxidants that help in reducing the effects of the free radicals that damage the skin cells. Nevertheless, the figs are dangerous to your skin also. They increase the sensitivity towards the sun, and hence, allow the UV rays to damage your skin leading to issues like premature aging, skin cancer, melanoma, etc. They also give you skin rashes when your skin is exposed to the sun for a long time.
4. Damages The Liver And Intestines
This is considered as the most dangerous side effect of having figs in more quantity. They have the capability to harm your liver and intestines, as they don’t get digested easily due to its hard texture. The seeds of the anjeer can lead to blockage in your intestine and lead to dangerous effects.
5. Leads To Calcium Deficiency
Figs are both beneficial and harmful for your bones. When taken in the large amount, the oxalates present in it absorb maximum calcium from your bones. This may lead to serious problems like bone weakening, brittle bones, osteoporosis, hypocalcemia, memory loss, hallucinations, muscle spasms, numbness, depression, tingling of body parts and much more.
6. Leading to Bleeding
Another reason to avoid having more than enough figs is that it leads to bleeding from various important body organs. Too many figs lead to retinal bleeding, rectal bleeding, as well as, vaginal bleeding too. The heavy bleeding in some cases has also resulted into hemolytic anemia. Hence, as you experience bleeding, immediately stop consuming figs.
7. Results To Hypoglycemia
Figs are suggested to people having diabetes, but it also brings along with it some drawbacks. Figs need to be avoided if you are suffering from diabetes and are taking medicines for lowering the blood sugar levels. Having overconsumption of figs would lower your blood sugar levels than required, leading to situations like hypoglycemia, imperfect vision, quick heartbeat, nervousness, hunger, headache, pale skin, and much more.
8. Gives You Allergic Reactions
There are several health benefits of figs, but they are allergic too. The allergies from figs are rhinitis, conjunctivitis, anaphylactic shock, and much more. Hence, if you are finding any of these reactions after having figs, avoid them for a healthy look.
9. Not Advisable For People Having Kidney And Gallbladder Issues
Are you suffering from kidney or gallbladder disorders! Eliminate figs from your ingredient list for avoiding worsening the situation. The oxalates it contains can lead the issues to a disastrous stage, and can also damage the spleen in your body, which is important for the growth of white blood cells. The white blood cells are important for your immune system, and hence, figs indirectly harm your immune system.
Figs are also not recommended in bulk quantity for pregnant women, breastfeeding moms and for those who are going to face any kind of surgery. Figs come as a treasure box with various nutrient values for a healthy lifestyle. On the contrary, it is best to have figs in a limited quantity, to maintain the healthy side of your life.
So, know the health benefits of figs, choose a wise quantity of figs and give your body a healthy touch.
Related Posts
