Useful properties and contraindications of figs

Fig( he is a fig tree, he is a fig tree, he is a vine berry) is a deciduous subtropical tree of the Mulberry family. Its historical homeland is Asia Minor, but now figs are spread throughout the Mediterranean.

In our country it is cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea. Figs is considered one of the most ancient cultivated plants.

Of great value are its fruits - sweet juicy seedlings with a lot of seeds-nuts.

Rich chemical composition of fresh and dried fruits, calorie

Fresh figs are rarely found on the shelves of stores. The fact is that the stability and transportability of these fruits leaves the best to do.

They must be consumed within 6 hours after picking , otherwise the figs will spoil. That is why even in antiquity, people learned to dry figs.

Dried figs - a product exclusively nutritious .No wonder they stockpiled the warriors of Alexander of Macedon, going on a campaign.

Sugar in figs very much. Fruits of some varieties can contain up to 70% glucose and fructose. Vitamin

figs composition ranges - content of fresh and dried fruits of different:

Som, the vitamins alone lost during drying figs( C, B5), the content of the other, on the contrary, increased.

Of the mineral substances in fig fruits are:

• sodium;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• phosphorus.

In terms of the amount of useful potassium, figs are a champion and are second only to nuts.

How to choose a fig, how much to store, what are its useful properties, tell the program "Live healthy!"Namely, vascular disorders cause a number of diseases in both men and women.

For the body of men

Vascular lesions, hypertension and heart disease often cause erectile dysfunction.

Helps figs and for the prevention of early heart attacks and strokes in men .He also quickly restores mental and physical strength during hard work.

For women's health

Fig fruits solve a serious vascular problem familiar to many women - varicose veins.

For swelling of the legs and cramps of the calf muscles , which lovers of high heels often suffer from, dried figs relieve unpleasant symptoms. This is due to the lack of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

The ability of figs to improve the regeneration of skin cells is beneficial for women who care about their appearance. Fresh fruits can be used in the diet for weight loss and detoxification of the body.

Figs useful for potency, prevention of heart attacks and strokes, swelling of the legs and varicose veins

Can children eat?

In the absence of allergy, figs can be safely given to children. This valuable product will improve the digestion and appetite of babies. will be a useful source of energy.

Figs is rich in folic acid , which is necessary for children for the normal development of the immune, nervous and circulatory systems.

To cover the daily need for this “vitamin of joy”, it is enough to give a child a few pieces of dried figs a day .

Usefulness during pregnancy and lactation

can be used by pregnant women to eat figs if there are no individual contraindications. The vitamin-mineral complex contained in these fruits will provide the future mother's body with everything necessary for the formation of the fetus.

A good combination of iron and folic acid will prevent the development of anemia during pregnancy. A large amount of fiber normalizes digestion.

Figs tend to stimulate lactation, so they can be used during breastfeeding.

At the same time, care should be taken and measure: the consumption of figs by a nursing mother in large quantities can cause colic and bloating in the child.

During pregnancy and lactation, figs are also useful for children, as they contain iron and folic acid.

Medicinal properties of fruit and leaves

Over the millennia of the use of fig fruits, traditional medicine has accumulated a great deal of knowledge about its healing properties. Avicenna mentioned it in his treatises.

To this day, figs are used by naturopaths to treat many diseases of :

• bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia( to relieve cough);
• pharyngitis, sore throat( for gargling and lowering the temperature);
• constipation( to stimulate intestinal motility);
• depression( to increase the tone);
• anemia( to increase hemoglobin levels);
• hypertension( for relieving vasospasm and as a diuretic);
• inflammation of the genitourinary system( as a diuretic);
• thrombosis, thrombophlebitis( to thin the blood).

Already mentioned warriors of Alexander the Great used dry figs to prepare a wound-healing drug.

In addition to the fruits in traditional medicine , the green leaves of the fig tree are successfully used. They are used to treat boils, boils and eczema.

Fig leaves are used as raw material for the manufacture of the drug "Psoberan", with which it is treated with vitiligo.

Figs - from a hundred diseases:

Harm and contraindications

Not all fruits of the figs are equally useful, they can be harmful to some. Refrain from its use should people , suffering from the following diseases:

• hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases;
• diabetes;
• gout;
• pancreatitis;
• inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Allergic reactions to figs are rarely found , because figs have very few essential oils. But for people prone to allergies, it is better to treat figs carefully and eat its fruits in minimal quantities.

Do not eat figs if you have gout, diabetes, an ulcer or pancreatitis

Delicious homemade recipes

You can make a lot of tasty and healthy drinks and goodies from the fruit of the fig tree.

Milk-Dried .For 300 ml of milk, take 4 washed dried fruits, and boil them in milk for several minutes. Put the figs in a blender, add 1 tbsp.lhoney and 4 tbsp.lchopped walnuts.

All chop and beat, gradually adding milk.

Fig figuraire .Take 200 g of dried apples, 6 dried figs and 6 prunes. Rinse the dried fruit and soak in warm water for an hour.

Discard in a colander, move to boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and insist for an hour. Serve a drink with honey.

Figs compote for the winter .Fresh figs wash, remove the stem and blanch for 5 minutes, then lower the fruit into cold water. Spread them across the banks.

Cook the required amount of syrup at the rate of 300 g of sugar and 3 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water. Pour figs with hot syrup, pasteurize at 85 ° C and roll up.

Fig, baked with Camembert cheese:

fig jam. Wash fresh ripe fruits thoroughly, cut off the stem and fold into a container. Cover figs with sugar. The weight ratio of fruit and sugar is 1: 0.7.Cover the container and leave for 3 hours to give figs juice.

Place the container on a small fire, bring to a boil, remove the foam and boil for 5 minutes with constant stirring. Remove from heat, cover with a towel and let stand for 10 hours.

Then repeat the process again: boil, boil for 5 minutes and let stand 10 hours.

At the final stage, boil the jam, boil for 10 minutes, add lemon juice to taste and some vanilla. Remove from heat, dispense into sterilized jars and close.

How much and how to eat?

Fig should be fresh and fully ripe - only in this case it will benefit health.

The color of the “right” ripe fig skin can be purple, burgundy, yellowish, etc. depending on the variety. The flesh of fresh figs is tender, jelly-like, the smell is pleasant, without acid.

If the fig smells sour, you don’t need to eat it - the fruit is spoiled.

Rules for the use of fresh figs:

• before eating the fruit thoroughly but carefully washed;
• peeling is not necessary, you can eat with it;
• if you do not like the peel, figs are cut in half, and only the pulp is eaten;
• child can be given figs, scooping the pulp with a teaspoon.

Before serving, figs are beautifully sliced, sprinkled with yogurt, sprinkled with nuts. Culinary use of figs is not limited to desserts.

Figs must be fresh and fully ripened, if the figs smell sour, you do not need to eat it - the fruit is spoiled

These fruits are perfectly combined with meat , and you can use them for stuffing duck or turkey, for preparing Mediterranean salads with mozzarella, asparagus, sweetpepper, pomegranate, nuts.

Figs - a fruit that has many advantages .It is nutritious and healthy, has a number of medicinal properties, rarely causes allergies and almost no contraindications.

The use of figs in cooking allows you to diversify the menu and add a savory oriental note to it.