Botanical characteristics of figs

Figs (figs, figs, wine berries) belong to the family Crassulaceae. This is a dioecious fruit deciduous tree. The height of the trunk is on average 10–20 m. The roots of the plant are powerful, woody, rooted deep enough in the soil. Common figs have dioecious flowers collected in inflorescences, which can be spherical, pear-shaped or flattened.

The fruit has a thin skin, is a small achene located inside a pear-shaped fleshy receptacle, weighs 20–75 g. The fig tree grows in Asia Minor (the plant’s birthplace), is found in the nature of Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey and Central Asia . Figs are grown as a cultivated plant in the Caucasus and Crimea.

Useful properties of figs

The fruits of figs contain sugars, pectin, proteins, fats, malic and citric acids. Anthocyanin glycosides, pantothenic and folic acids are present. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, PP have a beneficial effect on the body and the functioning of various systems. Carotene, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper are very effective in many diseases - these substances are involved in all processes of the vital organs of the human body.

The leaves of the plant are rich in furocoumarin, psoralen and bergapten. They also found tannins and tarry substances. In addition to ascorbic acid and rutin, there is an essential oil.

Figs have a laxative, diuretic and expectorant effect, lower blood cholesterol, and its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for the cardiovascular and nervous system. Also, the plant has anti-inflammatory properties.

The use of figs

Official medicine has long recognized figs as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for many diseases. The fruits of a delicious and healthy fruit are used in the treatment of obstruction of the pulmonary artery, vein thrombosis, to restore the cardiovascular system. The diuretic properties of figs allow its use in diseases of the kidneys, hypertension.

The plant exhibits an expectorant effect for colds, alleviates severe conditions with bronchitis and laryngitis. Decoctions, preserves, boiled figs in milk have a diaphoretic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Decoction of fig fruits:  2 tablespoons of dried figs are boiled in 1 cup of milk until softened. Take the drug 100 g 2-3 times a day. Such a medicine is recommended for, for gargling, externally in the form of poultices in acute inflammatory formation in the periosteum or connective tissue, abscesses,.

Fig fruits are good for both adults and children. If you need to get rid of boils and, urticaria and ulcers, fresh leaves must be applied to the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. The use of fresh fruits is recommended for weakened people who have suffered any disease. Figs can be dried, and in this or fresh form, it is useful in epilepsy. Fruit juice helps to remove sand from the kidneys, heal wounds. You can get rid of warts and birthmarks by applying mashed unripe fruits to the skin.

The ash of fig wood is infused with water and lotions are made with this liquid for inflammation of the nerve. Fig leaves help with hardening of the eyelids and thickening of the membranes of the eyes. The resulting milky juice from figs is used to treat the initial stage of cataracts, and to remove wet shroud. and the trace elements that make up the figs contribute to the production of serotonin - a substance that improves mood and improves well-being. Folic acid is useful for pregnant women, because it is involved in blood-forming processes and supports the immune system. Figs are considered the fruit that is richest in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, sodium and fiber. Figs - a leader in the content of minerals, so necessary in the treatment and prevention of heart disease and blood vessels. Calcium has beneficial effects on bones and. Thanks to fiber, the body easily fights cholesterol, gets rid of toxins. Delicious jams, marshmallows, sweets, compotes, wine, vinegar are prepared from fig fruits.

Dried figs

When dried and dried, the fruit has a high concentration of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and sugar. 100 grams of this valuable product contains three hundred and forty kilocalories, so it is a very nutritious fruit. It is especially recommended to use it for problems with blood vessels and the heart, the enzyme ficin has a beneficial effect on the treatment of thrombosis.

Dried figs are effective as an antipyretic and have a diaphoretic effect. The medicinal fruit acts as a laxative, and the miraculous decoction of dried fig fruits in milk is used for whooping cough, dry cough, and swelling of the vocal cords. Dried fruits today you can buy in any supermarket, you need to choose light yellow fruits. They will fill the body with energy, give strength, cheer up. Figs are used as an antitumor agent, take it when irradiated and anemia.

Figs with cough milk

In folk medicine, with coughing during a cold and with a decoction of fig fruits in milk. The course of treatment should be continued for 10-15 days, the drug will relieve cough and increase the body's resistance to respiratory diseases.

Recipe for figs in milk:  to make a healthy drink, you need to take 1.5 liters of pasteurized milk with a fat content of 3.2%, pour it into an enameled pan, heat it, place one medium-sized well-washed fresh or dried fruit there, bring to a boil. With the lid tightly closed, the composition should be kept for 0.5 hours on low heat until the volume decreases by about 1/3, then wrap the pan for steaming the figs and leave it until it cools completely: 3-4 hours is enough for the fig to give all its useful properties .

It is necessary to store the product in a jar, tightly closing the capron lid, in the refrigerator. It is impossible to prepare more than 0.5 liters of the drug, on the second day it will thicken, it will be a little malleable.

Calorie Figs

Fresh fig fruits contain up to 24% sugars, dried fruits - from 50 to 77%. The calorie content of dried fruits is 214 Kcal per 100 grams, this is explained by a high sugar content, it is impossible to eat a lot of them, a feeling of fullness quickly arises. If there is an organism's need for sweet foods and at the same time you want to maintain harmony, it is better to use figs. Since one fruit on average contains from 40 to 50 calories and about 2 grams of carbohydrates, it is more useful than any sweets. There is very little fat in the fruits.

Growing figs

Figs are quite exotic plants, not very adapted for living in Russia or in Ukraine. But gardeners learned to grow this culture in the southern regions, even on open ground. The tree likes good lighting. It grows poorly in direct sunlight, prefers moist soil. Parthenocarpy is characteristic of figs - the formation of fruits without fertilization. The deciduous plant as a whole is not very demanding in care, but needs good drainage.

During its development, it is necessary to limit the growth of the root system in order to prevent the growth of branches and trunk in height, otherwise such a tree will produce a small crop. Before planting, it is necessary to clear the soil of weeds, to make mineral fertilizer. Every spring around fig trees should be mulched with rotted manure. After the formation of skeletal branches to obtain a sufficient number of fruit branches, pruning is performed, removing about half of the old fruit branches and shortening them to two leaves. This is done after the first and second harvest.

Fig recipes

Decoction of dry fig fruit in milk:20 g of dry fruit fruit is poured with 1 cup of boiling milk and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat. They drink a broth with fruitful arthritis when coughing, bronchial, and tumors.

Decoction of fig fruits:

Recipe number 1: two tablespoons of dry fruit should be poured with one glass of hot water, insisted on a water bath for half an hour in a sealed container, then strain, bring the liquid to its original volume and drink 0.5 cup three times a day before meals.

Recipe number 2: 50 g of dried fruit is required to pour a liter of boiling water and boil on low heat for half an hour. It is recommended to drink the drug at 3 times a day for 1/2 cup along with the crushed fruits.

Infusion of fig leaves:  3 tablespoons of dry leaves (collected before flowering) should be chopped, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and insist 4-5 hours in a thermos. Take the infusion four times a day, 1/2 cup for bronchial asthma, kidney and urinary tract diseases.

Laxative Ball Prescription:  Grind and mix 100 g of figs, 100 g of raisins, 0.5 teaspoon of ground ginger and 0.5 teaspoon of nutmeg. From the resulting mixture, we form a sausage and then cut with a knife into circles 1 cm thick. Roll out balls from them and eat 1-2 balls in the morning on an empty stomach with constipation.

Syrup of figs: for its preparation, you need 8 pieces of chopped fruit, pour 250 ml of water, boil for 20 minutes, then remove the figs, pour 1 cup sugar and add water to the original volume. Next, cook the mixture until sugar is completely dissolved, add the juice of half a lemon, 1 teaspoon of ginger and pour the liquid into a vessel. You need to drink the drug for adults for 3-4 dessert spoons, for children - 1-2 dessert spoons per day for problems with the digestive tract and.

Fig salad: mix 300 g of figs, 150 g of prunes, 2.5 tablespoons of almonds, 1 cup of acidophilus, orange zest, sugar to taste. Morning salad will help the cardiovascular system.

Figs for weight loss

Vitamins, beta-carotene, minerals, amino acids, pectin, fig enzymes have a beneficial effect on the digestion process. The concentration of nutrients in figs is in the right ratio, this allows them to be well absorbed by the body. There is more potassium in figs than in bananas; it contributes to the normal functioning of the stomach, muscle elasticity, and removes excess fluid from the body. Figs are rich in substances that help reduce hunger.

Fruit grains are a fiber that relieves constipation. All these wonderful properties make figs an indispensable product for weight loss. There are many ways to replace sugar, which is so harmful for overweight people. Using figs with natural sugars, the presence of which is indicated by a white coating on dried fruits (glucose crystals), it is recommended to replace one of the meals with two to three fruits several times a week.

However, no more food should be consumed. Many fruits cannot be eaten, otherwise the result will be the opposite. Fruit helps restore strength, fills with energy. With the help of figs, the effect that acts badly on the body during weight loss is noticeably reduced.

Fig fruit

Depending on the variety, fig fruits can have either yellow or black-blue color. But most often you can see the yellow-green pear-shaped fruits the size of a walnut. Unripe fruits contain milky juice, very sharp in taste. Ripe fruits are overflowed with small seeds, taste from sugary to moderately sweet, since they contain fructose and glucose, malic and citric acids. The usefulness of the fruit is determined by the presence of salts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, vitamins A, B and C.

Carotenoids, pectin, enzymes, minerals, proteins and fats are stored in dried fruits, and their concentration in this form of fruit increases. Before use, the peel of a dried fruit is better to remove or soak in water, because it is highly rigid. The water in which the figs were soaked has healing properties, as minerals and fruit sugar pass into it, so you can drink it.

Varieties of figs

There are a large number of varieties of figs. Dried fruit varieties include:

Gray early Brunswick (chapla) Dalmatian Crimean black Violet Sochi - 4 Braunschweig Magnolia July

The variety allows you to choose the best of the best varieties, they all have excellent characteristics, bear fruit well and do not require special care.

Nikitsky flavor variety, used for the preparation of dried fruits, preserves, and for fresh consumption.

Braunschweig fig varietyit has very large fruits, differs in the color of the peel, it can be bluish-purple or dark brown. The pulp is juicy, white or with a pink color.

Magnolia also has large fruits, their skin is amber, the variety is used for canning.

Corderia has pear-shaped fruits, large with a yellowish-greenish tint. The pulp is amber, juicy and very sweet. This kind of fig is common in dry areas.

San Pedro is white - it can produce two crops: one gives fruits with a shiny, yellow peel like a lemon, from the second crop you can collect fruits greenish with a hint of sea water, with red flesh, like strawberries, juicy, incredibly tasty and fragrant.

San pedro black  also gives two crops: one, with large-sized fruits, used for fresh consumption, the second, with small fruits, used for drying.

Smirnensky gradehas average pear-shaped fruits. The skin is brownish-purple, sometimes greenish, the flesh is brownish-pink.

Figs during pregnancy It is important for every woman during pregnancy to eat right, replenish the body with vitamins and other useful elements that positively affect the development of the fetus. Figs are one of the most essential ingredients in the diet of expectant mothers. Women will get vitamin C, folic acid, proteins, potassium, calcium, iron in a sufficient amount, consuming at least 2-3 fig trees daily. In order not to gain weight, sweets lovers can use figs as a substitute for sweets. Figs satisfy hunger, natural sugar is not harmful to mother and child. Consultation of a doctor, of course, in this matter will not be superfluous, since pregnant women with a diagnosis of "gestational" figs can be harmful.

Fig leaves

Many today eat the fruits of this tree, but knowing the strength of the leaves, they can be used to treat many ailments. The leaves of figs are also edible, they help with diabetes, are effective in lowering the level. Fig leaves are a popular natural remedy for stomach ulcers. A decoction of dry fig leaves is drunk with, dysentery, colitis.

Infusion of fig leaves:  1 tablespoon of dry chopped leaves should be poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 1 hour and taken in 1/3 or 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day. You can make an infusion of fruit in milk.

Fresh fig leaves are used for the rapid maturation of boils. Decoctions of leaves treat cough, bronchial asthma, kidneys.

Fig black

Black figs are incredibly useful; official medicine recognizes its healing properties. Eating one fruit daily for a month, you can reduce the likelihood of sclerotic plaques, blood clots. The beneficial substances of figs affect the functioning of the brain and capillaries. Essential oils enrich the blood with oxygen, the fruit is recommended for people with mental labor, creative personalities. Black figs are good to use in inflammatory processes in the larynx, kidneys, and urolithiasis.

This fruit also helps with bronchitis. Due to the presence of salts of potassium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, it is excellent for complex therapy for cardiovascular disorders, anemia. This is one of the most excellent folk remedies, which must be included in the diet of older people, a real elixir of youth, which will fill the energies, give strength. Black figs contain ficin, which can cleanse blood vessels, gives them strength and elasticity.

Recipe number 1: thoroughly knead a glass of warm milk 4-5 pieces of fig fruits. Take the drug in 0.5 cups 2–4 times a day for bronchitis, tracheitis.

Recipe number 2: you need to boil on a slow fire in 1 glass of water 3-5 pieces of figs for 5 minutes, then knead and grind. Take a decoction during the day before meals, dividing into equal portions. The tool helps crush stones and removes them from the kidneys and bladder.

Black figs combined with almonds are an excellent way to increase weight with strong weight loss and loss of appetite.

Contraindications to the use of figs

Figs are contraindicated in pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The ban on the consumption of fig fruits applies to diseases such as enteritis, obesity. Since oxalic acid is present in figs, it is also contraindicated for people prone to gallstones.

Expert Editor: Kuzmina Vera Valerevna  | | | Nutritionist, endocrinologist

Education:  Diploma of Russian State Medical University named after N. I. Pirogov, specialty "General Medicine" (2004). Residency at Moscow State Medical and Dental University, diploma in "Endocrinology" (2006).

Figs- These are useful inflorescences that are mistakenly called berries or fruits. Figs grow on fig trees or figs, from the leaves of which Adam and Eve made their first clothes. If it is reasonable to eat figs in food, the benefits are undeniable. Fig tree grows in Crimea or Turkey, and the tree itself is 12 meters high. In addition, it is able to live 200 years or more. Figs are a true long-liver. For those in the middle lane, these fruits are more often available in dried form, as they soon deteriorate. In what the benefits and harms of figs to the body? 1

What is useful figs?

The benefits and harms of dried figs are obvious to the body. It is better to eat figs fresh, because then the benefits are tangible. It is caused by a storehouse of vitamins C, B, A and trace elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron. But the use of dried figs, as they contain up to 70% fructose. But you can’t get too carried away, since this carbohydrate even more strongly affects the risk of obesity than sugar. The calorie content of fig fruits is 50 kcal, which is comparable to an apple.

But there are many advantages: fructose relieves fatigue, both physical and psychological. It is enough to eat one fig a day after work, and rest will be much more pleasant and productive.

Dried inflorescences are made as follows. First, they are dried in the sun, after which they are washed and treated with pesticides. This is a negative point, since such formulations are not always useful for human health. Therefore, before eating, it is recommended to wash them. But the benefits of fresh figs are better expressed. The fruits are full of vitamins.

What diseases are figs good for?

Figs- This is a universal folk remedy for the treatment of many diseases, including the gastrointestinal tract. The health benefits of figs are incredibly diverse. In particular, figs are great at high temperatures. It is best to use it not in raw or dried form, but as part of a decoction that works effectively. The body under the influence of figs and reduces body temperature, which will make the fruits its universal remedy for the symptomatic treatment of colds, flu, bowel, liver and other diseases accompanied by fever.

In other unpleasant conditions, fresh or dried figs in folk medicine also have the following properties:

1. With angina, a decoction of fig fruits can be used to gargle. You can also rinse the oral cavity with stomatitis in combination with drug treatment.
2. Fruits can be used as a diuretic, which is useful for the body in some types of poisoning and to lower blood pressure.
3. Figs benefit the functioning of the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract, provided that there are no gastrointestinal diseases.
4. Due to its incorporation into potassium, the fetus is useful for the cardiovascular and nervous systems. This trace element is actively used in the transport processes of the central nervous system. The presence of potassium in figs helps to strengthen blood vessels, the prevention of hypertension and venous insufficiency.
5. Figs have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system by dissolving existing blood clots and thinning the blood, which prevents the formation of new ones.
6. With constipation, figs are necessary because they have a laxative effect.
7. The benefits of figs for women are undeniable because it helps to lose weight.

Figs have many positive aspects, but there are still negative points that need to be taken into account. In particular, it is recommended to take figs from warts, tumors and high temperature.

Be creative with recipes for this healthy plant. Then you can eat tasty and healthy.

3

Who is contraindicated in figs?

Laxative action is good for constipation, but in some situations it is better not to eat figs. In some situations, this will only do harm. For example, if you plan a long trip, where there will be no opportunity to go to the toilet. It is also recommended to remove figs from the diet during diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus (you can’t eat a lot of fructose during insulin production disorders). Figs for gastritis are contraindicated. Eating figs during obesity is also not recommended.

Figs can cause allergic reactions, so eat it carefully for the first time.

   IN

Figs benefits and harms, how to choose, traditional medicine figs treatment

This tree is mentioned in the Bible: Adam and Eve, expelled from paradise, covered it with a leaf, Christ cursed him, not finding any fruit on it. But now we are all happy to find these juicy, sweet fruits on store shelves. Figs are the same Fig tree from the Garden of Eden, the same Fig Tree from the biblical parable. Eating fresh or dried fruits of this unusual tree, few people think about how important figs are for our health: everyone, and especially women, need to know the beneficial properties and contraindications of this fruit.

Useful properties of figs

All the benefits of figs are in its amazing chemical composition. Each of the substances contained in it, getting into the human body, does an enormous, exorbitant work there, debugging the vital functions of many systems and organs. Since the fruit comes to our table in different forms, the question is quite natural, what is the use of fresh figs and does it lose its properties in dried form. Indeed, there is a difference.

1. The chemical composition and useful properties of fresh figs:

• glucose makes figs an excellent anti-toxic agent;
• fructose enhances the breakdown of alcohol in the blood, prevents the formation of plaque on the teeth, controls the level of sugar in the blood;
• organic acids contribute to the regeneration of cells and tissues, so the benefits of figs for women are obvious: it has excellent anti-aging properties;
• tannins are known for their anti-inflammatory and soothing effects;
• proteins activate all metabolic processes in the body and are the building material for cells;
• fats - the main source of energy for humans;
• vitamins: carotene, B1, B3, PP, C - nourish cells, strengthen the immune system;
• minerals: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus - active participants in metabolic processes;
• the calorie content of fresh figs is only 49 kcal, so the product is used in various weight loss programs.

2. The chemical composition and useful properties of dried figs:

• the content of glucose and fructose in dried fruits increases 1.5 times, so they remove toxins from the body several times faster than fresh ones;
• protein becomes almost 5 times more, so the benefit of dried figs is that a person receives much more energy;
• the calorie content of dried figs increases to 214 kcal;
• all other useful substances remain intact even in dried fruits.

All these beneficial properties of figs make this fruit indispensable in some cases. Knowing its unique composition, doctors and nutritionists have long recommended using it for certain diseases and cosmetic problems. Therefore, every woman who seeks to preserve her youth and beauty should know what figs are useful for.

The use of figs in medicine and cosmetology

The unique medicinal properties of figs make it possible to use fresh fruits as an adjuvant for the treatment and prevention of many quite serious diseases. Moreover, they are used not only in the framework of traditional medicine: doctors very often prescribe figs for their patients in the following cases:

• with food poisoning and intoxication of the body, with diarrhea and dysentery;
• as a prophylactic in the fight against diabetes and caries;
• against fatigue, like a natural power engineer;
• with stress, nervousness, depression;
• to strengthen immunity and against vitamin deficiency;
• as a diaphoretic and antipyretic;
• with anemia, since figs contribute to blood formation;
• in the treatment of thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and various cardiovascular diseases;
• with chest pains;
• for coughing, colds and bronchial asthma, rinsing with fig infusion is recommended;
• the same infusion can be used for compresses in the treatment of abscesses of various origins, corns, long-healing open wounds and tumors (anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of tannins in the composition of the fruit work);
• doctors prescribe it as a diuretic for nephritis;
• it also helps with whooping cough.

Dry fruits also have all of the above properties, and besides, they are also used as an effective means for losing weight, as they have a laxative effect. As a raw material for medicines, a leaf of figs is used, which underlies the “Psoberan” preparation used to treat baldness and vitiligo. Fig fruits can be found in the laxative Kafiol. Collopoda, brewed in milk or boiling water, is used as a cough and sore throat remedy. In pharmacies you can buy fig syrup - it tastes good and has very useful properties:

• improves appetite and digestion;
• relieves spasms of muscle rheumatism;
• improves skin condition;
• helps with colds of the female genital organs.

We found the use of the beneficial properties of figs for women and in cosmetology:

• improves skin condition: smoothes wrinkles, makes it supple and toned;
• nails cease to exfoliate, become strong and strong;
• strengthens hair, prevents their loss, fragility and cross-section;
• possesses cleansing properties, exfoliating dead cells and providing cells with full breathing;
• moisturizes the skin;
• eliminates acne, acne.

Therefore, in modern cosmetology, fig extract is so actively used to create a whole line of masks, creams, lotions, tonics, healing and very effective cosmetics for hair and skin care products. From the pulp of this fruit, excellent homemade anti-aging masks are obtained.

So no matter how you turn this fruit - one sheer pleasure. But this is only at first glance. Given its powerful effect on the body, it is worth remembering that figs are the benefits and harms in one shell. You need to know the contraindications to its use, so as not to harm your health.

Contraindications and harm

There are not so many contraindications for eating figs as indications, but they are still there:

• pancreatitis
• diabetes;
• inflammation of the stomach (gastritis, colitis, enteritis);
• gout;
• obesity.

With these diseases, figs can be eaten, but in very limited quantities.

Now you know if figs are healthy and not contraindicated for you. To make your skin shine with youth and beauty, hair sprinkled in a thick cascade on the shoulders, and health concerns have left you, do not neglect the fruits of a modest fig tree. She, like a life-giving source, nourishes your body with the necessary substances and will not let it go astray in its work.

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Related posts

Mentioned in the Bible. The leaves of the fig tree covered the first people - Adam and Eve. Collagen figs - a storehouse of vitamins, minerals. The rich chemical composition of wine berries, as dried figs are called, has a positive effect on many processes in the human body. The berry is especially useful for women.

Very often, when dried, many fruits lose their beneficial properties. But this does not apply to figs. The berry's nutritional value after drying increases; it was not without reason that warriors ate it during the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Yes, and fresh fig berries are difficult to preserve, so it is better to dry them. You can enjoy dried fruits throughout the whole year until a new crop.

  Composition and benefits for women

The dried fruits of fig tree, or fig, retain many vitamins. The fruits are especially rich in vitamin A, folic acid, a little less in them of vitamin E. Of the minerals in the fig, there is enough magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and almost as much potassium as in nuts. Wine berries are valued for their high content - about 70 percent - of glucose, sucrose. Pectin in the composition of figs increases the nutritional value of the fruit, is able to normalize the metabolism.

For the female body, dried berries are especially useful:

1. Eat several berries of figs to help balance chemical elements during critical days. Since they contain coumarin, the blood liquefies, facilitating the condition of the woman.
2. Anemia is one of the frequent diseases of a woman during pregnancy. It is the use of dried figs that will improve the blood composition.
3. The properties of wine berries include stimulation of the lactation process, so during the feeding period they eat two or three pieces a day. Excessive enthusiasm can adversely affect the digestive system of the child.
4. For those who suffer from increased body weight, wine berry will be the best helper in losing weight. The inclusion of figs in the diet will allow you to quickly get enough, will help to exclude sweets and sweets from the menu. Fig berries can easily be replaced during a snack.
5. To cleanse the body of a woman from toxins and toxins, dried fig fruits are used. They have so much fiber that after eating even two berries a day, the need for it will disappear. And the dietary fiber of the berry will relieve constipation and improve metabolism.
6. Symptoms of varicose veins in women are especially difficult. Dried figs make up for the deficiency of potassium in the body, relieve swelling, cramps in the calf muscles.
7. Useful figs for colds, sore throats. Dry fig fruits infused with milk are used to gargle.
8. There are many seeds in the pulp of dried figs. In crushed form, it is used as a scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells and rejuvenate the face.

The positive effect of fig tree fruits on the female body was described by Avicenna.

But some women will have to abandon the fig treats if they suffer from an acute form of stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer. Oxalic acid in the composition of the fruit will irritate the walls of the digestive tract, increasing pain.

It is forbidden to use dried figs with pancreatitis.

A large amount of glucose will not allow figs to enjoy diabetes. Although the fruits of figs do not contain essential oils, allergy sufferers need to include wine grapes with caution in their diet.

No matter what benefit the woman’s berry of the fig tree has, the measure in its use must be observed.

Since figs grow only in warm countries, the fruits come fresh to the distribution network in a short time: either in July or in September. The ripeness of the berry is determined by the disclosure of the fruit from the bottom into four parts. The fruits are dried under a canopy, where they are well ventilated. Figs are not recommended to be washed before drying.

The name of the berry itself suggests that it can roam like young wine. This can be avoided by dropping for a second or two fruits into boiling syrup. Now it remains to lay them on the grill and place in a well-ventilated room. After a week of drying, the berries are flattened, strung on a string and suspended in the sun. Some berry bunch are placed over the included gas or put in the oven. After drying, the fruits are placed in a paper bag, keeping in a cupboard.

There are such ways of storing figs:

• The dark figs are dried and stacked in sealed bags and placed in the freezer.
• Jam is prepared by passing the berries through a meat grinder with lemon. Adding sugar to the cooked mass, simmer for twenty to forty minutes. Store jam in banks. 700 grams of sugar are taken per kilogram of berries.
• Wine is made from dried figs with the addition of several blueberries. A kilogram of figs is poured with ten liters of warm water and put in a dark place for ten days.

All types of storage of wine berries will enjoy its beneficial properties for a long time.

More information can be found in the video:

Click n. 2.2 - a complete set of competent combinations for a healthy menu.

And do not forget to check the rules for choosing quality dried fruits - item No. 4.

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Composition and calorie content

Calorie content and glycemic index of about 250 kcal per 100 grams and average GI \u003d 47-55, comparable with fresh cranberries, persimmons and kiwi.

The chemical composition largely repeats fresh fruits, but in different concentrations. In dried figs, in comparison with fresh figs, there are about 3 times more sugars and 4-5 times more dietary fiber. This makes him a profitable participant in nutrition for at least two purposes - stable intestinal function and fast delivery of glucose to the brain and muscles.

Convenient infographics will help evaluate the nutritional value of dried figs:

Benefits for the body

Fiber as a leader in dietary fiber content among popular dried fruits ( up to 10% of dry weight!), figs perfectly copes with intestinal toning and is useful for hypotonic constipation. Today, this is the most common version of the problem with cleansing - due to the lack of a fractional diet and inactivity.

Vitamin neuroprotectors group B. Among them, B1 is most interesting, which is extremely important for most functions of the nervous system and cannot be synthesized in the body.

Potassium is one of the basic minerals for maintaining water-salt balance, rhythmic heart function and a healthy mass of bones and muscles.

Magnesium is a valuable element for the body, which is involved in many enzymatic reactions, including the formation of ATP. Harmony in the work of the nervous system, in the state of the heart and blood vessels, in the stable intestinal motility and outflow of bile - everywhere there is a direct merit of magnesium.

Calcium is a mineral that is needed daily to maintain skeletal bone density. Some other mineral salts, including phosphorus (up to 5%). There is also a little iron in figs, although it is poorly absorbed in a non-heme form, which is worth understanding for yourself once and for all with raptures about the presence of iron in plant foods.

What antioxidants are there in dried figs?

There is almost no vitamin C in dried figs, but with the right technology, dry fruits contain a whole set of bioflavonoids and polyphenols with antioxidant activity. Catechins and epicatechins - to protect the body from the growth of cancer cells. Rutin - to strengthen blood vessels. Syringic and gallic acids - for the harmony of intestinal microflora, including due to the bactericidal effect on opportunistic microorganisms.

What is the use of dried figs for women

Exploring this issue, you can not ignore the topics of weight loss and pregnancy. High calorie content and an abundance of sugars are not suitable for protein diets. However, as part of a balanced diet, figs will be of great help.

If you are on a fractional calorie diet when losing weight,  then the best place for a sweet snack every other day (!) - lunch (until 12:00):

• Figs are convenient to take with you to work and not look like a "black sheep", replacing them with sweets for a snack in the office;
• Sugar, B vitamins, magnesium and fiber will provide quick thinking, stability of emotions and stable intestinal motility;
• An adequate limitation is 3 dry fruits (about 80 grams), which can be entered even in sharply reduced daily calories.

During pregnancy, against the background of general health and normal weight, you can use up to 4 fruits per day, 3-5 times a week.

How to eat and what to combine

The best time for a meal with figs is in the morning.

Dried figs, like all dried fruits, are not a product that should be carried away by eating a dozen pieces daily.

However, to benefit from figs without harm to the body is easy enough. Let's look at the best combinations.

For good absorption of vitamin C and strengthening the vascular walls

Add soaked figs to winter salads with shredded cabbage, carrots and apples, or eat 1/2 grapefruit and 2-3 dried fruits at the beginning of breakfast.

For a beneficial complex of pectins, vitamin D and calcium

Add chopped soaked figs to the curd or beat the curd mixture in a blender.

How to diversify a healthy diet with figs:

• We master a simple nut-fig paste - for spreading on biscuit cookies or plates of fresh apples: nuts + figs in equal proportions and a little lemon juice. This pasta is an excellent base for homemade sweets or a layer in cakes without baking.
• After cooking on the fire, add large slices of dried fruit to the granola and cereal. This gives piquancy to delicate cereals - oatmeal and rice.
• In a smoothie for a blender, figs can easily replace a sweet banana and make friends with any ingredients.
• Of meat dishes, it is best suited to poultry and lamb - in sauces and stuffing when stuffing. However, we take into account: during heat treatment, a part of valuable substances is lost, including coarse fibers.

Dried Fruit Mix Recipe for the Heart

  A high concentration of sugars, potassium and vitamin C - continuous health for the heart and blood vessels, normalization of immunity and stress resistance.

How to cook: in equal proportions, mix soaked dried fruits. You can choose from dried apricots, figs, raisins, prunes. Add walnuts, honey, lemon juice and twist in a blender until smooth.

Additional Ingredients: Citrus Zest, Other Nuts. For allergies to honey, we use a third more than the sweetest dried fruit - figs and dates.

How to use

We eat 2 teaspoons up to 3 times a day on an empty stomach (half an hour before meals).

Possible harm and contraindications

Absolute contraindications:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Acute pancreatitis;
• Ulcerative pathologies of the stomach and intestines;
• Chronic renal failure.

Strictly limit (2-3 pieces at a time, every other day):

• With type 2 diabetes and obesity;
• With pathologies of pregnancy;
• In acute diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.

The unsightly nuances of production also determine the potential harm to dried fruit. Tips on how to get around these pitfalls are below.

How to choose the right

Unfortunately, dried figs are not without the “charms” of industrial processing. Sulfur dioxide, unsanitary conditions, smoking with liquid smoke, boiling water with caustic soda, gasoline burners, and almost "harmless" treatment with glycerin and cheap oil against this background - for the "selling beauty of the product." Alas, unhealthy technology awaits us on any counter with dried fruits.

How to choose high-quality figs from the mountain of "cats in a poke"?

Color and surface: light beige fig without gloss. Let's say frosted sugar coating.

Shape, size and texture :   slightly flattened fruits, approximately the same size, amenable to finger pressure when tested for softness.

We smell and taste, for which we go to the market. Norma is a sweet, full-bodied, noticeably crispy taste and lack of gasoline odor. Figs chew without titanic efforts. If the taste is salty, sour, damp - the product is spoiled. At the same time, we take into account that unwashed dried fruits are a risk of introducing an intestinal infection. Grab a bottle of water!

When purchasing in a supermarket, we first study and rely on the brand.

With a special need for environmental friendliness, we buy in online stores: expensive brands from small manufacturers, owners of which are enthusiasts of healthy lifestyle or alternative nutrition systems.

How to remove sulfur dioxide from dried fruits?

• Soak thoroughly - in cold (!) Water. The first time is for 30 minutes. Then we drain the water and a second time - for another 15 minutes, after which I wash it in warm running water, picking the fruits with my hands individually. This removes the remains of ordinary dirt (pieces of earth, sand, etc.), which can stick to figs during drying and transportation.

Dry yourself instead of buying

There are two ways to benefit from figs without harm to health:

• We take risks with the purchase, carefully studying the fruits according to the characteristics described above;
• We dry ourselves - in an electric dryer. This is especially true for residents of the southern regions, where they manage to deliver fresh fruits without spoilage.

Qualitatively, tasty, fast and cheaper - fair epithets for the results of the electric dryer.

Choose figs for drying

Any fruit can be dried with benefit. But the perfect variety is still white, or honey. Light, in a golden peel, with a yellowish flesh, 4-5 cm in diameter (smaller fruits are more sweet). An important nuance of a successful variety is a large number of seeds. The fewer seeds, the worse the variety.

When deciding to purchase a device, it is worth paying attention to models with a wide temperature range, ranging from 33-35 degrees and the most ergonomic square shape of pallets. Relative disadvantages of home drying - the time spent on the process and one-time investments in the purchase of the device. But how much time and money do steal from our past illnesses - because of the dangerous choice of products? A rhetorical question for personal reflection.

How to store at home

Dried figs require a cool (0-10 degrees) and dry (!) Place. Place it in a glass jar lined with a thin cotton cloth from the inside and close tightly.

A good storage option for good air circulation - linen bags, in suspension. Choose it for a party that you eat in a couple of months. The disadvantage of this method is that when the temperature rises, pests easily start. You can also use paper bags that prevent insects from entering.

We will be glad if the detailed story about dried figs was informative for you. The benefits of figs are great when we can circumvent potential harm, choose the right culinary combinations and reasonably limit the amount of sweet product.

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