Useful properties and contraindications of figs

Fig (aka fig tree, aka fig tree, aka wine berry) - deciduous subtropical tree of the Mulberry family. Its historical homeland is Asia Minor, but now figs are common throughout the Mediterranean.

In our country, it is cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. Fig is considered one of the most ancient cultivated plants.

Its fruits are of great value. - sweet juicy compound fruits with many nut seeds.

Rich chemical composition of fresh and dried fruits, calorie content

Fresh figs are rarely found on store shelves. The fact is that the keeping quality and transportability of these fruits leaves nothing to be desired.

They need to be consumed within 6 hours after collection.otherwise the figs go bad. That is why even in ancient times people learned to dry figs.

Dried figs are extremely nutritious... It was not for nothing that the soldiers of Alexander the Great were stocking up on it when they were going on a campaign.

There are a lot of sugars in figs. Fruits of some varieties can contain up to 70% glucose and fructose.

The vitamin composition of figs fluctuates - the content in fresh and dried fruits is different:

Thus, some vitamins are lost during drying of figs (C, B5), the content of others, on the contrary, increases.

Of the minerals in fig fruits are found:

• sodium;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• phosphorus.

In terms of the amount of useful potassium, figs are the champion and are second only to nuts.

How to choose a fig, how much to store, what are its useful properties, the program “Live Healthy!” Will tell you:

The benefits and beneficial properties of figs

Record potassium content makes figs a particularly valuable product for people suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Namely, vascular disorders cause a number of diseases in both men and women.

For the body of men

Vascular lesions, hypertension, and heart disease are common causes of erectile dysfunction.

It helps figs and for the prevention of early heart attacks and strokes in men... He also quickly restores mental and physical strength during strenuous work.

For women's health

Fig fruits solve a serious vascular problem familiar to many women - varicose veins.

For swelling of the legs and cramps in the calf musclesFrequently plagued by lovers of high heels, dried figs relieve unpleasant symptoms. This is due to the replenishment of the deficiency of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

The ability of figs to improve the regeneration of skin cells is beneficial for women who care about their appearance. Fresh fruits can be used in dietary nutrition for weight loss and detoxification of the body.

Can children eat?

In the absence of allergies, figs can be safely given to children. This valuable product will improve the digestion and appetite of babies, will become a useful source of energy.

Figs are rich in folic acidnecessary for children for the normal development of the immune, nervous and circulatory systems.

To cover the daily need for this "vitamin of joy", it is enough to give the child a few dried figs a day.

Usefulness during pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant women can eat figsif there are no individual contraindications. The vitamin and mineral complex contained in these fruits will supply the body of the expectant mother with everything necessary for the formation of the fetus.

Good combination of iron and folate prevents the development of anemia during pregnancy. A large amount of fiber normalizes digestion.

Figs tend to stimulate lactation, therefore, can be used during breastfeeding.

In this case, caution and measure should be taken: the use of large quantities of figs by a nursing mother can cause colic and bloating in the child.

Medicinal properties of fruit and leaves

Over the millennia of using the fruits of figs, folk medicine has accumulated a great deal of knowledge about its healing properties. Avicenna mentioned him in his treatises.

And to this day figs are used by naturopaths to treat many diseases:

• bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia (to relieve cough);
• pharyngitis, tonsillitis (for gargling and lowering the temperature);
• constipation (to stimulate intestinal motility);
• depression (to improve tone);
• anemia (to increase hemoglobin levels);
• hypertension (to relieve vasospasm and as a diuretic);
• inflammation of the genitourinary system (as a diuretic);
• thrombosis, thrombophlebitis (for blood thinning).

The already mentioned warriors of Alexander the Great used dry figs to prepare a wound-healing potion.

In addition to fruits in traditional medicine green fig leaves are successfully used... They are used to treat abscesses, boils and eczema.

Fig leaves are used as raw materials for the manufacture of the drug "Psoberan", with which vitiligo is treated.

Figs - from a hundred diseases:

Harm and contraindications

Fig fruits are not equally useful for everyone; for some, they can be harmful. People should refrain from using itsuffering from the following diseases:

• hyperacidosis gastritis and peptic ulcers;
• diabetes;
• gout;
• pancreatitis;
• inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Allergic reactions to figs are rarebecause figs have very few essential oils. But for people prone to allergies, it is better to treat the fig carefully and eat its fruits in minimal quantities.

Delicious homemade recipes

From the fruits of the fig tree at home, you can prepare a lot of tasty and healthy drinks and delicacies.

Milk and Fig Shake... For 300 ml of milk, take 4 washed dried fruits, and boil them in milk for several minutes. Transfer the figs to a blender, add 1 tbsp. l. honey and 4 tbsp. l. chopped walnuts.

Grind and beat everything, gradually adding milk.

Fig brew... Take 200 g of dried apples, 6 dried figs and 6 prunes. Rinse dried fruits and soak in warm water for an hour.

Throw in a colander, transfer to boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and leave for an hour. Serve the drink with honey.

Fig compote for the winter... Wash fresh figs, remove the stalks and blanch for 5 minutes, then put the fruits in cold water. Divide them into banks.

Boil the required amount of syrup at the rate of 300 g of sugar and 3 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water. Pour figs with hot syrup, pasteurize at 85⁰С and roll up.

Figs baked with camembert cheese:

Fig jam... Wash fresh ripe fruits thoroughly, cut off the stalks and put them in a container. Cover the figs with sugar. The weight ratio of fruits and sugar is 1: 0.7. Cover the container and leave for 3 hours for the figs to juice.

Place the container on low heat, bring to a boil, remove the foam and simmer for 5 minutes with constant stirring. Remove from heat, cover with a towel and let it brew for 10 hours.

Then repeat the process again: boil, boil for 5 minutes and let stand for 10 hours.

At the final stage, boil the jam, boil for 10 minutes, add lemon juice to taste and a little vanillin. Remove from heat, pour into sterilized jars and seal.

How much and how to eat correctly?

Figs must be fresh and fully ripe - only in this case it will benefit health.

The color of the skin of the "right" ripe fig, depending on the variety, is purple, burgundy, yellowish, etc. The pulp of fresh figs is tender, jelly-like, the smell is pleasant, without acid.

If the fig smells sour, you don't need to eat it - the fruit has gone bad.

Rules for the use of fresh figs:

• before eating, the fruits are thoroughly but carefully washed;
• peeling is not necessary, you can eat with it;
• if the skin is not pleasant, the fig is cut in half, and only the pulp is eaten;
• the child can be given figs by scooping up the pulp with a teaspoon.

Before serving, figs are beautifully cut into slices, pour over with yogurt, sprinkle with nuts. The culinary uses of figs are not limited to desserts.

These fruits go well with meat., and you can use them for stuffing duck or turkey, for making Mediterranean salads with mozzarella, asparagus, bell peppers, pomegranate, nuts.

Figs are a fruit with many virtues... It is nutritious and useful, has a number of medicinal properties, rarely causes allergies and has almost no contraindications.

The use of figs in cooking allows you to diversify the menu and add a piquant oriental touch to it.