Dried figs: useful properties and contraindications

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12

The fig or fig 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 her leaves that became the first “clothing” for a person, and in the Koran there is a surah At-tin, in which Allah swears by a fig and an olive as two blessed fruits.

Figs are consumed fresh and dried. Delicious jams 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 finest restaurants.

This article will tell you about the beneficial properties and contraindications of dried figs.

Description of fruits

Depending on the variety, the fruits of the fig tree can be black and blue, yellow, purple or black. 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 with scales.

Ripe figs have excellent taste and contain many valuable substances. However, they are verytender and almost impossible to transport, as they quickly lose their presentation. To export fresh figs, they have to be plucked from trees while still unripe. However, in this case, the fig fruit contains significantly fewer substances that have a positive effect on the human body.

You can save all the valuable vitamins and minerals contained in fresh fig tree fruits by removing excess moisture from them.

How to cook

Dried figs, the useful 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:

• wash fruits;
• cut off all damaged parts and ponytails from them;
• wipe each fruit with a paper towel;
• heat the oven to 60 degrees Celsius and in no case allow it to be increased, as ripe fruits will simply bake in a very hot oven;
• cut each fig in half;
• spread 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 fruits for at least 8 hours, turning the figs occasionally.

Dried figs, whose beneficial properties have been known since 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 dryfigs in the sun

The traditional way involves leaving cut fruit in direct sunlight. To dry figs outdoors:

• prepare figs (wash and dry);
• cut into thin slices;
• lay a baking sheet or grate with clean gauze;
• spread the fruit on it cut side up;
• cover the figs with a layer of gauze to protect them from insects;
• fix the gauze on the baking sheet with tape;
• place the container with figs in a place where direct sunlight hits the fruit.

It will take 2-3 days to prepare dried figs, the beneficial properties of which are widely used in traditional medicine, by this method. In this case, you will need to turn the pieces of fruit every morning so that they dry faster and more evenly. If after 3 days the figs are not ready, you can dry them in the oven.

Ready-made dried fruits should be placed in containers and closed with a lid. Store dried figs in the refrigerator. It will not lose its useful properties within 2 years.

Composition

The he alth benefits of dried figs for adults and children have long been proven. It is a result of the balanced chemical composition of the fig fruit.

Unripe fig fruits contain caustic milky juice and are inedible. A completely different situation with ripe figs.

When fresh, its fruits contain up to 24% sugars (fructose and glucose), and dried - up to 50%. They also contain tannins, organic acids,fats and proteins, and the leaves contain unique substances such as psoralen and bergapten.

In addition, fresh figs contain up to 24% sugars, 1.3% proteins and 0.5% acids. Dried fruits contain 3-6% protein and 40-50% sugar. This composition gives them a pleasant taste, and the person who tried them, there is a feeling of satiety. At the same time, the calorie content of dried fruits is 214 kcal per 100 g. They contain vitamins (A, B₁, B_{3, C and PP) and minerals (sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus). In addition, figs contain potassium. At the same time, there is so much of it that in terms of its content, the fig is second only to nuts.}

He alth 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, delicately solve the problem of constipation. Pectins contained in fruits restore and heal connective tissue and articular cartilage.

The high level of antioxidants cleanses the blood of plaques of 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 system.

Useful properties of dried figs for women

In manyIn the countries of the East, dried fig fruits have been recommended since ancient times to girls and women suffering from pain during menstruation. In addition, the inclusion of this fruit in the diet helped to normalize mental balance during menstruation.

Pigs are especially useful for those who plan to get pregnant or are expecting a baby. Dried figs contain a significant amount of folic acid, which helps maintain the integrity of the placenta and has a very positive effect on 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, as it has been noticed that in this case, childbirth is easier and less protracted.

Benefits of figs for men's he alth

Eating figs is also recommended for the stronger sex. Useful properties of dried figs for men - the ability to effectively cope with impotence.

This has been known since ancient times. Oriental healers prepared a healing potion as follows: 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 pour them with 1 glass of hot water. Mix thoroughly, insist a little and drink 1 glass twice a day 30 minutes before meals. Treatment should be carried out within 1 month. If there is no improvement in the patient's condition,you can repeat the same course in 2-3 weeks.

For those who struggle with being overweight

The beneficial properties of dried figs for weight loss are widely known. It has been established that its ripe fruits contain a lot of ballast substances that reduce the feeling of hunger. In addition, its grains have an effect on the human body that is identical to what fiber has on the intestines. They improve digestion and prevent constipation.

In order to lose extra pounds, you need to eat a couple of figs at least 2-3 times a week 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 fruit 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 should be given to children. They are a real storehouse of vitamins and can replace any "pharmacy" vitamin complexes. At the same time, for colds, it is useful for babies to give a drink made from milk, in which dried figs were soaked, with the addition of butter and honey. The use of this remedy will relieve cough much faster than any pill.

Children who do not eat well, fig syrup will help restore appetite and improve digestion.

In addition, the mineral s alts of potassium, iron and magnesium contained in figs normalize the processesblood formation, so 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 stool, then puree from fresh or dried fruits soaked in hot water normalizes bowel function.

The only but: 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 for use

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 advise eating figs during exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to the abundance of fiber in them.

People with weak stomachs should not consume 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 eating dried figs, the heart rate normalizes, as well as lowering blood pressure and tachycardia.

Some useful tips

If you boil dried figs in milk, you get an excellent cough remedy, which is used for various respiratorydiseases that are accompanied by cough, such as whooping cough, tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.

The same medicinal decoction is used as an antipyretic and diaphoretic for these diseases.

The significant content of B vitamins in dried figs explains the benefits of this fruit for the nervous system. In particular, after its use, people normalize the activity of the nervous system, improve mood, and also increase mental activity and performance.

There are 256 calories in 100 g of dried fig fruits, 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 are underweight, for example, after surgical interventions and strict diets for medical reasons, figs are useful as a restorative and high-calorie food.

Now you know what are the beneficial properties and contraindications of dried figs. We hope this information will help you improve your he alth and cope with excess weight without resorting to drugs and without the use of dietary supplements.