Figs or figs - this is one of the oldest cultivated plants on our planet, which is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. As you know, according to the Old Testament, it was its leaves that became the first “clothing” for a person, and in the Qur'an there is the Surat At-tin, in which Allah swears by fig and olive, as two blessed fruits.
Figs are consumed fresh and dried. Delicious jam and preserves are also prepared from its ripe fruits. This fruit goes well with meat, so it is included in the main dishes of the most gourmet restaurants.
About what useful properties and contraindications for dried figs, this article will tell.
Fruit Description
Depending on the variety, the fruits of the fig tree may have a black-blue, yellow, purple or black color. They are covered with thin skin with small fluff. At the top there is a hole in the form of an eye, which is covered by scales.
Ripe fig fruits have excellent taste and contain many valuable substances. However, they are very tender and almost impossible to transport, as they quickly lose their presentation. In order to export fresh figs, it is necessary to pluck it from the trees still unripe. However, in this case, the fig fruit contains significantly less substances that have a positive effect on the human body.
You can save all the valuable vitamins and minerals contained in the fresh fruits of the fig tree by removing excess moisture from them.
How to cook
Dried figs, the beneficial properties of which will be discussed later, are easily and quickly obtained in the oven. A little longer you will dry it in direct sunlight.
In the first case, you need:
- rinse the fruits;
- cut off all damaged parts and tails from them;
- wipe each fruit with a paper towel;
- heat the oven to a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and in no case prevent it from rising, as ripe fruits are just baked in a very heated oven;
- cut each fig fruit into halves;
- put pieces of fruit on a wire rack or on a baking sheet and put to dry in a preheated oven with the door slightly ajar;
- dry the fruit for at least 8 hours, periodically turning the figs.
Dried figs, whose beneficial properties were known in ancient times, can be considered ready when its upper part becomes leathery and dense. In addition, when cutting the finished dried fruit juice should not stand out.
How to dry figs in the sun
The traditional method involves leaving the cut fruit in direct sunlight. To dry figs in the open air:
- prepare figs (rinse and dry);
- cut into thin plates;
- cover a baking sheet or wire rack with clean gauze;
- put the fruit on it with the slice up;
- cover the figs with a layer of gauze to protect them from insects;
- fasten gauze on a baking sheet with adhesive tape;
- place a container of figs in such a place so that direct sunlight is exposed to the fruit.
To prepare dried figs with this method, the beneficial properties of which are widely used in traditional medicine, it will take 2-3 days. In this case, you will need to turn pieces of fruit every morning so that they dry faster and more evenly. If after 3 days the fig is not ready, then you can dry it in the oven.
Ready dried fruits should be laid out in containers and covered with a lid. Store dried figs in the refrigerator. It will not lose its beneficial properties for 2 years.
Structure
The health benefits of dried figs for the health of adults and children have long been proven. It is a consequence of the balanced chemical composition of fig fruits.
Unripe fig fruits contain caustic milky juice and are inedible. A completely different situation with ripe figs.
Fresh, its fruits contain up to 24% sugars (fructose and glucose), and in dried - up to 50%. They also contain tannins, organic acids, fats and proteins, and unique substances such as psoralen and bergapten in the leaves.
In addition, fresh figs contain up to 24% sugars, 1.3% protein and 0.5% acid. In dried fruits, protein is 3-6%, and sugar - 40-50%. Such a composition gives them a pleasant taste, and the person who tried them has a feeling of satiety. The calorie content of dried fruits is 214 kcal per 100 g. They contain vitamins (A, B 1 , B 3 , C and PP) and minerals (sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus). In addition, figs contain potassium. Moreover, it is so much that in its content the fig is second only to nuts.
Health Benefits of Dried Figs
This fruit is widely used in folk medicine. It has a beneficial effect on intestinal motility, removes toxins from the body, and delicately solve the problem of constipation. The pectins contained in the fruit repair and heal the connective tissue and articular cartilage.
A high level of antioxidants cleanses the blood of plaque dense cholesterol, as well as small vessels and capillaries, making them more elastic and less permeable.
Healers and traditional medicine specialists use fig fruits to treat anemia, various infections, oncology, fungal diseases, problems of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems, as well as the oral cavity, skin and respiratory organs.
Useful properties of dried figs for women
In many countries of the East, the dried fig fruits have long been recommended to girls and women who suffered from pain during menstruation. In addition, the inclusion of this fruit in the diet helped normalize mental balance during menstruation.
Especially figs are useful to those who plan to become pregnant or expect a baby. Dried figs contain a significant amount of folic acid, which helps to maintain the integrity of the placenta and has a very positive effect on the fetal development.
And yet, in many countries of the East, they try to regularly treat expectant mothers with figs, especially in the last months of pregnancy, since it is noted that in this case childbirth is easier and less prolonged.
The Benefits of Figs for Men's Health
It is recommended to use figs for the stronger sex. The beneficial properties of dried figs for men are their ability to deal effectively with impotence.
This was known in antiquity. Oriental doctors prepared the healing potion like this: they soaked 2 dried fruits in 1 glass of warm milk and left to infuse overnight. In the morning, the patient had to drink the resulting liquid and eat the pulp of the fruit.
Figs in folk medicine are also used to combat prostatitis. To prepare a medicinal drink, take 5 fruits and fill them with 1 glass of hot water. Mix thoroughly, insist a little and drink twice a day, 1 glass 30 minutes before meals. Treatment should be carried out for 1 month. If there is no improvement in the patient's condition, you can repeat the same course after 2-3 weeks.
For those who are struggling with excess weight
The beneficial properties of dried figs for weight loss are widely known. It is established that in its ripe fruits contains many ballast substances that reduce the feeling of hunger. In addition, its grains have an effect on the human body that is identical to that of fiber in the intestine. They improve digestion and prevent constipation.
In order to lose extra pounds, you need to use a couple of fig fruits instead of an afternoon snack or dinner. Moreover, nutritionists recommend eating it separately without adding other products.
Thus, dried figs are a great helper in the fight against excess weight.
Is it possible to give fig fruits to children
For kids, the beneficial properties of dried figs (see photo above) should also not be ignored. These fruits are not only possible, but also need to be given to children. They are a real storehouse of vitamins and are able to replace any "pharmacy" vitamin complexes. At the same time, for colds, it is useful for children to give a drink of milk, in which dried figs were soaked, with the addition of butter and honey. The use of this tool will relieve cough much faster than any pills.
For kids who eat poorly, fig syrup will help restore appetite and improve digestion.
In addition, the mineral salts of potassium, iron and magnesium contained in the figs normalize blood formation processes, therefore, their use helps to increase the level of hemoglobin, as well as relieve anemia and improve blood quality.
If the baby often has problems with stools, then puree from fresh or dried fruit soaked in hot water normalizes the intestines.
Only thing: it is recommended to include figs in the diet of children gradually and carefully monitoring the body's reaction to a new product for him.
Contraindications
As you can see, the list of useful properties of FIGs is quite extensive. However, dried figs, the calorie content and useful properties of which you already know, have a number of contraindications for use. In particular, it is not recommended to use it for diabetics because of the high sugar content, as well as for people suffering from gout, since the fruits of this fruit have a high content of oxalic acid. Doctors do not recommend using figs for exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to the abundance of fiber in them.
People with a weak stomach are not recommended to use figs before long trips or before an important meeting, as this fruit has strong laxative properties.
All this indirectly affects the cardiac activity and contributes to its improvement. When using dried fig fruits, the heart rate normalizes, and blood pressure also decreases and tachycardia passes.
Some useful tips
If you boil dried figs in milk, you will get an excellent cough remedy, which is used for various respiratory diseases that are accompanied by cough, such as whooping cough, tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.
The same healing broth is used as an antipyretic and diaphoretic in these diseases.
The significant content of B vitamins in dried figs explains the benefits of this fruit to the nervous system. In particular, after its use in people, the activity of the nervous system normalizes, the mood improves, and mental activity and performance also increase.
In 100 g of dried fig fruits, 256 calories are present, so it is not recommended to consume a large amount of this dried fruit, especially if you want to get rid of extra pounds. But for those who have a lack of body weight, for example, after surgical interventions and strict diets for medical reasons, figs are useful as restoring and high-calorie foods.
Now you know what are the useful properties and contraindications of dried figs. We hope this information will help you improve your health and cope with excess weight without resorting to medications and without the use of dietary supplements.