What is useful figs: useful properties and contraindications

Figs have many names: fig, fig, Smirninskaya or tarasus, bodhi. It belongs to the oldest cultures that people cultivated. Figs are used for healing various diseases, for general strengthening of the body and maintaining immunity, for culinary and cosmetic purposes.

The most ancient find of petrified fruit was found in the Jordan Valley. Due to the absolute periodization, their age is determined - at least 11 thousand years. Judging by the multiple data recorded in historical sources, the exceptional properties of figs have been known and used since ancient times. Nowadays, it has not lost its healing and nutritional qualities, nor popularity.

Calorie and chemical composition

The fruits of figs, depending on the variety, are yellow, black-blue and black. They are extremely tasty and rich in nutrients.

Calorie fresh figs are not too large, despite the fact that it has a very sweet taste. Fresh berries contain 49-57 kcal per 100 g. Due to dehydration, the volume of dried berries decreases and the concentration of sugars increases. Its caloric value becomes 244-257 kcal per 100 g.

For 100 g of the product, fig contains approximately:

• proteins - 3 g;
• fat - 0.8 g;
• carbohydrate - 58 g;
• dietary fiber - 18 g;
• organic, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids - 2.4 g;
• water - 16 g;
• Saccharides - 55 g;
• starch - 3 g;
• ash - 3 g;
• calcium - 144 mg;
• magnesium - 59 mg;
• sodium - 11 mg;
• potassium - 710 mg;
• phosphorus - 68 mg;
• iron - 0.3 mg.

In addition, the fig berry has a powerful set of vitamins: beta-carotene, vitamins A, B1, B2, E, PP. Although figs - quite high-calorie foodst, its unique composition allows you to enter these berries in the diet.

Useful properties of figs

The fruits of wine grapes consumed in fresh and dried. At the same time, all the benefits of fresh berries are preserved and even increase in dried fruits by increasing the concentration of substances as the amount of water decreases.

They contribute:

• quick recovery after illness;
• improvement of digestive processes;
• stimulation of the cardiovascular system;
• correct functioning of the liver;
• expectoration when coughing;
• curing tonsillitis;
• bowel cleansing;
• removal of toxic substances from the body.

Types of effects of figs and drugs from it on the body:

• anti-inflammatory;
• expectorant;
• diuretic;
• anti-ulcer;
• antiseptic;
• antiparasitic;
• diaphoretic;
• antifebrile;
• wound healing;
• laxative.

Fresh

Fresh wine has exceptional healing properties:

1. It is used in the treatment of fungal diseases.
2. Whoever regularly eats figs strengthens their bones. This is especially important for older people.
3. Fresh figs should be carefully introduced into the diet of pregnant and lactating women: its benefits are undeniable, but harm to the body is also likely. A pregnant woman can gain weight at an accelerated rate, or her blood sugar level rises. He can provoke colic in an infant by passing through mother's milk.
4. It also has a beneficial effect on the skin.
5. Due to its iron content, fig juice is used in the treatment of anemia.
6. Magnesium and potassium in the composition of the product provide muscle building material and help to improve the work of the heart muscle, it is useful for tachycardia.
7. The wine has the valuable quality of blood thinning, which helps lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

The treatment uses fresh fruits, juice, decoctions and infusions of them. Infusions provide anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, have a regulating effect on metabolism. Milk figs are very popular.

Dried

Despite the fact that all useful substances remain in dried fruits, their properties are somewhat different. By reducing the amount of water, the level of sugars in them increases to 70%. At the same time, the level of vitamins, minerals, micro and macro elements and other substances remains the same.

Since most people can use dried figs, it makes sense to consider the benefits of it and whether there is any harm to the body.

Thanks to dried figs available at any time of the year:

• bowel motility improves;
• the body removes toxins and toxins;
• bowel function improves;
• connective tissue and cartilage grow together better due to the pectins contained in the fruit;
• antioxidants help cleanse the blood of cholesterol plaques, clean small blood vessels and give them elasticity;
• iron, potassium and magnesium have a positive effect on the cardiovascular and circulatory systems of the body, normalize blood pressure, rhythm and heart rate.
• boiled with milk, it is commonly used as an expectorant, diaphoretic and antipyretic;
• B vitamins have a positive effect on the nervous system: improve mood, normalize nervous activity, increase efficiency.

A fig is considered to be a “female berry”, with all sorts of beliefs, signs and recipes that intricately entwine the rational and mythical sides.

What is useful figs dried, carrying its glory from time immemorial, for women?

1. Those who wish to lose unwanted kilograms can use the method in which one “fig” day is arranged weekly. In fact, in addition to 100 g of dried fruit on this day, it is supposed to consume a kilogram of raw fruit, a pound of raw vegetables and 2 liters of nonfat kefir.
2. Women love sweets, but often have to avoid them. An excellent alternative would be a few dried figs, which, with all the sweets, are much more useful than chocolates, candies, chips, etc.
3. From the practice of Oriental medicine, recommendations have been taken to alleviate menstrual pains by eating several fig berries.
4. Figs can not only contribute to dropping excess weight, but also help to gain the missing, if you know how to eat it: regular use in large quantities due to the caloric content of the product will quickly add kilograms, while metered consumption will help clean the intestines, thereby reducing weight.

How to choose

Fresh figs, untreated and useful, you can eat only where it grows, because it has an extremely short shelf life - just a few hours after removal from the tree.

He fully justifies one of his names "tartberry" - fermentation begins very quickly.

Fresh fruit

Needless to say, it is better not to buy anything from suspicious strangers and in unchecked places, including figs. The aroma of the berries is pleasant and sweet, it should not be too rich. If the fruit gives staleness, it is spoiled. Fresh quality fruits should be:

• without mechanical damage;
• moderately mild;
• maximum dark shade inherent in this variety;
• should prefer berries of the same size
• A large number of seeds indicates a high taste.

Transportation of fresh figs is carried out with utmost care: damage to the fruit dramatically reduces their already short shelf life.

Dried figs

Dried fruits are more available, they can be purchased at any time of the year. Choose brown, beige or gray berries, depending on the variety. Tips on Choosing Dried Figs:

1. Fruits should have a matte color regardless of the color dictated by the variety. Shiny beautiful berries are treated with sulfur dioxide.
2. Especially fleshy berries untreated with chemistry also do not differ.
3. Quality product a little flattened.
4. Sometimes the surface is covered with white bloom, which is crystallized glucose. Such a product is sweet.
5. Dry rough texture combined with a sour or salty flavor indicates that the product is overdue.
6. Even if you are sure of the quality of the purchased product, it is better to soak it in water for an hour before use in order to dissolve possible harmful compounds.

How to store

The fig berry is to be stored in the processed form, and the fresh one has an ultrashort shelf life.

Fresh fruit

If you are lucky to be in the end of summer in the region where this amazing berry grows, and you managed to get it for eating, eat it as soon as possible. If there is a need for storage, use a refrigerator. The temperature should be about 1 ° C. The maximum shelf life is a few days., depending on the initial state of the product.

Left at room temperature, the figs ferment on the same day.

You can also freeze it. This will help preserve the valuable properties of the product. Such raw materials should be stored at -15 ° C.

Dried

Not everyone knows how to store dried figs. In a dry, cool, dark place, it is stored for several months: the longer the drier the air and the lower the temperature. At non-observance of conditions the product becomes damp, harmful insects get in it. The container should be tightly capped. Sunlight is excluded.

Before use, it is advisable to soak dried figs for an hour in warm water, which will dissolve the chemicals. Boiling water can destroy part of the useful substances of the product.

Cooking Application

A healthy person can eat fig berries in any form. This exotic product will bring its notes to any dish:

• in fresh or dried form they are replaced by sweets and chocolates;
• dried fruits are added to compotes, used in fillings for cakes and other products;
• unripe berries cannot be eaten raw, but they become very tasty, sliced ​​and baked with nuts and honey;
• ripe fruits, sliced ​​and dressed with whipped cream or sour cream, is an exquisite and nutritious dessert;
• Fig tree berries served with soft cheeses are a great snack for white wine or champagne;
• add the product to meat dishes, poultry dishes, salads, snacks;
• Of course, this fruit is harvested in traditional ways: jam, jam, marshmallow, canned fruit drinks;
• they even make wine from fig berries.

Fig jam preserves almost all the useful properties of the product and is used as a dessert, a medicine and a drug after rehabilitating diseases.

Application in cosmetology

It is not surprising that such a useful product found its application and occupied a worthy niche in cosmetology.

It has the ability to regenerate, moisturize and soften. It is applied for:

• moisturizing the skin;
• eliminate peeling;
• rejuvenation;
• anti wrinkles.

Daily cleansing, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing masks and blends with fig fruits are widely used and bring tangible effect.

Contraindications and harm

Figs - unique product, the useful properties of which have been known for a long time and are used to this day, but it also has contraindications.

It is not recommended to use it for those who suffer:

• acute inflammatory processes of any part of the gastrointestinal tract;
• diabetes;
• gout;
• obesity;
• pancreatitis;
• urolithiasis.

With care, it can be applied to pregnant women and nursing mothers. Despite the minimum contraindications, people who do not have them, do not eat figs in large quantities. Adequate daily intake for a healthy body. - 2-4 pieces.

Fig has an undeniable benefit and occupies a worthy place among the healing products. It is not only useful, but also very tasty both by itself and in combination with other products: its presence adds exotic notes to the dishes.

Despite the nutritional and medicinal value, before adding this wonder-berry to the diet, contraindications and individual intolerance should be excluded.