18 Reasons To Eat Figs Regularly

Figs, commonly known as Anjeer are the fruit of the ficus tree, a part of the mulberry family. Fresh Figs are usually soft from the center accompanied by crunchy seeds. This unique texture makes it a great fruit to enjoy just the way it is. Most of us remember Fig or Anjeer in the form of a dry fruit when the seeds turn more crispy and the flesh dries up. Fresh figs are seasonal and perishable.

Dried Anjeer can be enjoyed all year round. They are often part of the healthy diet as a replacement to the table sugar and thus act as a natural sweeter.

Figs are a natural source of sugar, soluble fiber, and lots of minerals. The one mineral which is very important for all of us and mostly growing women is Iron. Figs both fresh and dry are an excellent source of iron. Figs are a powerhouse of nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, antioxidants like vitamin A and Vitamin L which can contribute to overall health and wellness.

# Minerals

Figs have an abundance of minerals that can help with many things. They contain potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, and manganese. They even have vitamins K and B6. All of these minerals work to help your body in one way or another. They make sure your bones stay healthy and your blood flows well throughout the body.

# Antioxidants

Antioxidants are lovely little things that are mighty powerful. These little warriors fight away free radicals which can later cause cancer. The antioxidants in figs have also been found to heal tumors, wounds, and warts.

# Calcium

The calcium mentioned in one keeps your bones strong and healthy while being one of the key fighters against osteoporosis. A half-cup serving of fresh figs has the same amount of calcium as a glass of milk (which can be helpful if you want an alternative to dairy when fighting congestion or if you are lactose intolerant).

# Sore Throats

There are different components in figs and their leaves that have been found to be able to soothe sore throats when mashed together with garlic. You can simply eat the mixture (more of a paste really) or you can mix it with a cup of water.

# Fiber

Fiber can help you with digestive health, constipation, and weight loss. The dietary fiber in figs can even help to fight off breast cancer. Figs can also keep diarrhea at bay. Fiber also helps to keep colon cancer away and can balance hormone levels in women going through pregnancy or menopause.

# The Leaves

Not only is the fruit healthy for you, but the leaves are too. Chewing on the leaves or even just boiling them in water to make a tea can keep your blood sugar levels down and can lessen the amount of insulin that diabetics need. The fig leaves can also help your triglyceride levels to drop which helps to prevent heart disease.

# Healthy in Moderation

While figs sound to be all good, there is a warning that you should heed. Figs contain a kind of sugar called fructose. It can do some damage to your heart if you consume too much.

# Sugar Replacement

The reddish-pinkish fruit of the fig can be spread. Some people like to use it in pies, cakes, puddings, to sweeten teas and coffees. Some people try to replace sugar with gis whenever they are able because it is healthier than the generic cane sugar.

# Lower Cholesterol

The high amount of fiber, when teaming up with the pectin that figs also have can also lower your cholesterol levels. The fiber and pectin do this by picking up the cholesterol and help it out of your body faster so that it cannot build up and do damage to your heart.

# Heart Diseases

Omega-3 and six fatty acids, as well as phenol, lessens the chances of getting heart diseases. This works in part because it helps to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, which is healthy for the arteries. What is healthy for the arteries is healthy for the heart!

# Hypertension

Hypertension is when your body has too much sodium and not enough potassium. Figs are great for balancing that because they are low in sodium while being high in potassium.

# Bronchitis

The chemicals located in fig leaves, when brewed as a tea, have been found helpful for fighting off Bronchitis. Not only do they help against Bronchitis, but against other respiratory issues. Fig leaves have even been used to relieve the effects of asthma.

# Alzheimer’s

Figs, partly due to the antioxidants, are amazing anti-inflammatories. Their anti-inflammatories do not just stop at the surface. They ease neuroinflammation as well. Neuroinflammation is a large and fancy word that means ‘brain swelling’. This brain swelling can help lead to Alzheimer’s. So enjoy a couple figs every now and again might help to stave off or slow down Alzheimer’s Disease.

# STDs

There are two ways that the antioxidants in figs can help you with this. One way is to just eat the fruit. The other is to smear the fruit’s soft innards on the affected area. This will work best for STDs that come with sores.

# Aphrodisiac

Whether it is just a placebo or if the vitamins and minerals in the fig really do help you below the middle, no one really knows for sure. People have been using figs for centuries as an aid in conceiving children or to let them go longer and want it more often. Why not give it try?

# Macular Degeneration

These little fruits are able to stop the spread and progression of macular degeneration, a type of loss in eyesight. So if you are starting to get a bit older, try eating a fig every now and again; it could do you a world of good.

# Urine

Urine can be a confusing thing. There are things that you want to be left in your body and things that you want the urine to carry out, but those two things do not always happen how you need them to. Eating figs can help with that. The potassium in figs helps your body to control what is and is not being released in your urine. The figs can also help with filtering your urine so that any harmful thing is killed or at least weakened.

# Treat Various Illnesses

In a world where there are so many different illnesses, it makes things a little easier knowing that there are almost just as many ways to get rid of those illnesses. Eat figs is one of those ways. The leaves, extracts, and fruits themselves have been used to cure a number of things. They can treat anemia, cancer, leprosy, skin infections, diabetes, ulcers, urinary tract infections, and gastrointestinal tract infections.