The beneficial properties of figs are one of the magnificent gifts of mother nature to humanity. Its useful properties and contraindications have been studied by man in sufficient detail and are widely used by him. There are about three hundred kinds of figs. All of them have a positive effect, benefit. Fresh fig fruits are a seasonal fruit; in our country it appears on markets or stores in the fall. In the south, it can be seen more often on the shelves, in the more northern regions it is sold less often, because the shelf life is short, the fruits quickly deteriorate. And dried figs are as healthy as fresh and almost always available. The fruits of figs are varied in color: black, brown, red, yellow, green; in shape: from round to pear-shaped.
Most of the figs are harvested in the fall from August to October, when longitudinal cracks appear on the skin of the fruit. Droplets of pure juice begin to stand out from the “eyes” at the top of the fruit and on the surface. The pulp of figs during this period is unusually sweet, as if filled with pure sugar juice, the beneficial properties are maximum. If you ever tasted such a fig, just plucked from a tree, you will understand that what you bought in a store only remotely resembles its real taste.
It is best to clean the figs early in the morning, as the fruits overheated in the sun quickly deteriorate.
Fruits figs stably abundantly. An adult tree can produce up to 100 kg of fertility per year. Moreover, the crop is harvested twice - in June, and then in August-November. Most often, the color of the fruit is yellow-green. Unripe figs contain milky juice; it is not edible. But as soon as cracks appear on them, through which the cherry-red juicy pulp shines through, the fruits are ready. One drawback is that they are not ripe for a long time.
Fresh figs - good
Useful properties of figs are a huge content of organic acids, pectins, enzymes, vitamins: A, B1, AT2, AT3, C, beta-carotene, PP, trace elements, minerals. Each fruit contains iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium that are beneficial for the body.
40 g of figs contain 7% of our daily requirement for potassium, 6% in calcium and iron. All thought processes occur with the participation of iron. In terms of potassium content, this fruit is second only to nuts.
The drug furolen from the leaves is used in the treatment of baldness, vitiligo, and juice and essential oils inhibit the growth of certain fungi and pathogenic bacteria. It promotes the formation of melanin. Fig leaves contain coumarin - a substance that increases the body's sensitivity to solar radiation. Therefore, we must protect ourselves from sunburn during treatment with decoctions of leaves.
Fresh sugar contains 25%. Mostly it is fructose. This is the highest percentage of fructose when compared with other fruits. Fresh fruit protein contains 1%, and dried fruit - 6%.
A few fig fruits per day will quickly relieve mental or physical stress. Regular consumption of this fruit helps to improve memory, reduce sleep disturbances.
Figs are of great benefit to people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, people with problem veins, with a tendency to brakes, with anemia, asthma, bronchitis, colds, sore throats. It reduces blood sugar, but it is not recommended to consume a lot of it for diabetics or obese people, since all the sugars present in the fruit are easily absorbed by the body. But a few fig fruits eaten per day, on the contrary, can reduce blood sugar levels, are useful for obese people. Most importantly, the amount of figs eaten should be optimal.
In general, his main value is that he prompts, helps the body choose the right healing property for it at the moment.
Figs are a great digestive aid. He himself will help the body choose the right property of this beneficial fruit. In one case, figs will work as a mild laxative. In another - as a remedy for constipation - eat 4-5 fresh fruits, and if you only have dried fruits - soak them - eat in the morning along with the water in which it has soaked.
But you can not use figs in acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The fruits, despite the sweet taste, contain a lot of oxalic acid, so it can not be eaten with gout.
The diuretic and diaphoretic properties of figs are known. Teas, decoctions from fruits are used as an antipyretic, diaphoretic.
Each fruit contains polyphenols, flavonoids, which improve the antioxidant activity of the blood. The medicinal juice of figs contains the enzyme phytin, which almost completely destroys fibrinogen in the blood and fibrin (an insoluble protein that the body uses to coagulate). Filaments of fibrin form the basis of a blood clot, which interferes with the normal flow of blood. For treatment, only 3 drops of juice are extracted from an unripe fetus. It is useful for hemopoiesis or for heart diseases. Based on extracts from the fruits and leaves of figs, some drugs have been created that are successfully used to treat cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis, and thrombophlebitis. It can also improve blood: increase hemoglobin, lower cholesterol.
Useful properties of dried figs
The dried fruit has a lot of fiber, the beneficial properties of which are necessary for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Its calorie content is 214 kcal / 100 g. One dried fig gives 2 g of fiber, which is 20% of the daily norm. In terms of its composition and the amount of dietary fiber, it occupies an honorable first place, helping the gastrointestinal tract to function.
The high pectin content makes dried figs the most healthy product. It accelerates the healing of connective tissue after injuries to bones or joints. The fruits are rich in calcium, which is one of the most important components for strengthening bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Dried figs contain up to 70% of sugar. Interestingly, people who want to lose weight are advised to consume figs daily. However, the high amount of calories it contains can lead to weight gain, especially when consumed with milk. A few pieces are enough to get the recommended amount of nutrient nutrients, so do not overdo it!
Dried figs contain phenol, omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In addition, beneficial substances that contain fig leaves have a significant effect on the level of triglycerides in the human body, which are one of the main causes of various heart diseases. These fatty acids are not produced by our body - we must get them with food. They are needed for the cardiovascular and nervous systems to function normally.
Figs - recipes for treatment
A few recipes for traditional medicine:
- Boil three sheets of figs in half a liter of water for 15 minutes. Strain, drink this solution on a regular basis to lower blood pressure.
- Finely chop four leaves of figs, mix with sugar to make a thick mixture. Take this mixture regularly with a glass of water twice a day. This home remedy is a useful addition to the course of treatment for cirrhosis.
- With laryngitis, hoarseness, you need to prepare syrup, from one teaspoon of chopped dried figs and half a glass of water - boil for 15 minutes, strain, add a teaspoon of honey.
- Add two or three chopped fig fruits to a cup of kefir (200 ml). Use this mixture twice a day for several weeks to reduce spleen inflammation.
- Apply milky juice from stems or leaves three to four times a day on warts - this will help you get rid of them.
- Persons suffering from anemia can eat 2-3 fig fruits soaked overnight in a glass of milk. Eat these fruits with milk in the morning for a month.
- Take one and a half liters of water, add 50 g of dried figs, barley, raisins. Simmer under a lid for about 15 minutes. Then add to the broth 15 g chopped licorice root. Cover, leave to insist overnight. Take a teaspoon. This is an effective home remedy for constipation in children.
- If you have bad breath, then just chew a couple of fig leaves and then rinse your mouth with warm water.
To treat urolithiasis or kidney stones, it is recommended to boil figs in milk. Drinking this milk is useful very hot until the stones disappear.
As an aid in breast cancer, traditional medicine recommends figs. Its fruits have disinfecting, emollient properties, so traditional medicine often uses them to prepare infusions, which are used as rinses, poultices for colds, abscesses, and inflammation of the mucous membranes. They are especially useful for external use in cancer, as they prevent the development of the disease.
Traditional medicine uses the fruits and leaves of a plant. Fresh figs or its juice is applied to erysipelas every 2 hours. The disease is cured in 1 day.
Figs contain sulfur, a vital element for human health. Sulfur is a part of proteins as sulfur-containing amino acids (cystine, cysteine, methionine), as well as part of certain vitamins, hormones. The formation of insulin occurs only with a normal concentration of sulfur in the body.
Milky juice of leaves, green stems is recommended for difficultly absorbable tumors, abscesses. The juice of the leaves can bring a tattoo, they treat scabies, it will help you get rid of warts, blackheads.
It is useful to take figs to the elderly or weakened people, because the regular use of these dried fruits helps to rejuvenate, strengthen the body, and helps restore the body after an illness.
For centuries, figs have been recommended as a way to correct the body's sexual dysfunctions, such as infertility or erectile dysfunction. His real success as an aphrodisiac is doubtful, but the huge amount of valuable vitamins, minerals that he contains can lead to a sudden increase in sexual energy. Soak 2-3 fig fruits in milk overnight, eat them in the morning to enhance your sexual abilities.
Harmful figs to the body, precautions
- too much eaten figs can cause diarrhea;
- dried fruits due to high sugar content can cause tooth decay;
- in some people, figs can cause an allergic reaction - from mild to severe;
- it is better not to consume it too much a week or two before the operation, because it dilutes the blood, and this can sometimes be the cause of bleeding in people sensitive to it;
- As always, before making major lifestyle decisions, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Figs are a doctor plant. Alexander of Macedon knew about the beneficial properties of figs - tired soldiers only needed to eat some dried fruit to restore strength. He also knew that the gruel from figs quickly heals wounds, helps with poisoning, heart disease, lungs, stomach, liver.
The beneficial properties of figs are not in doubt. Fruits contain more iron than apples, and brewed with hot milk are an excellent cough remedy, a good antipyretic, diaphoretic. Of course, there are contraindications, but if you follow the measure, then harm can be avoided.