31 Days of Raw: Day #17 – Figs!

31 Days of Raw: Day #17
Figs!

I remember eating my first dried fig when I moved out here to Arizona.  I had never seen them before and it was deliciously chewy yet crunchy…sweet as candy. I remember eating my first FRESH fig only a few years ago…If I enjoyed dried figs, fresh figs were pure heaven.  Juicy, sweet, slight crunch when eating the seeds, yet creamy and wonderfully satisfying.  Needless to say, I fell in love. The fig has long been revered for its apparent aphrodisiac properties. Figs have been around a long time and have been well revered. Cleopatra believed they gave her the prowess and sultry quality everyone attested to. The Romans believed figs were a gift from Bacchus, the god of intoxication, and an apron of fig leaves covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness in the Garden of Eden (some scholars maintain that the forbidden fruit Eve picked was a fig, not an apple). Flush with seeds, from 30 to 1,600 per fruit, the fig is a symbol of fertility in many cultures. You will find the purple skin of the Black Mission variety to the greenish yellow of the Calimyrna, and everyone has their preference.

Figs

Constipation:
Taken either fresh or dried, the fig is regarded as a dependable laxative on account of its large cellulose content and its tough skin. The tiny seeds in the fruit possess the property of stimulating peristaltic or wave like movements of intestines which facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean. That being said…be careful not to overdo your consumption of fresh figs…I learned the hard way after eating 32 in one sitting.

Asthma:
Figs are considered beneficial in the treatment of asthma. Phlegmatic cases of cough and asthma are treated with success by their use. It gives comfort to the patient by draining of the phlegm.

Sexual Health:
Figs are a natural aphrodisiac, inducing hormonal arousal and  can be beneficially used in the treatment of sexual debility. They can be supplemented by other dry fruits like almonds and dry dates along with butter. Their use has proved effective in such cases.

Weight Loss:
 Fiber and fiber-rich foods are helpful to lose weight. Figs are excellent source of dietary fiber and a great food for weight management.

Hypertension:
Deficiency of potassium or low intake of potassium-rich foods can lead to high blood pressure. Figs are very good source of potassium which helps to control high blood pressure.

Diabetes
Numerous studies have demonstrated that fig leaves have anti-diabetic properties, and reduce the amount of insulin needed by diabetics.

Heart Health
Studies have shown the ability of fig leaves to lower the levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are the major form of fat produced and stored in the body, and elevated levels of triglycerides are commonly linked to obesity and heart disease.

Strong Bones
It might surprise you to learn that dried figs have one of the highest calcium contents of any plant based food. In terms of fruits, only the orange is a better source of calcium. Did you know a one-hundred gram serving has twice the calcium of milk? Dried figs are also a good source of magnesium and vitamin K which are important for building denser bones.

Antioxidant power!
A study showed that dried fruits such as figs contain high levels of phenol antioxidants that fight free radical damage. Of the fruits that were tested, dried figs and plums proved superior to all of the other dried fruits in terms of antioxidant content.

Healthy Red Blood Cells
A 100 gram serving of dried figs supplies sixteen percent of the recommended daily iron requirement – a mineral that’s important for building healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Most premenopausal women don’t get enough iron in their diet.

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Figgy Pudding

• 3 fresh figs
• 1 tsp cinnamon or vanilla

Puree figs and spice.  Enjoy!!!

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