Friday, October 20, 2017

Health Benefits of Figs

Figs have a unique, sweet taste, soft and chewy texture, and slightly crunchy, edible seeds. Fresh figs are very delicate, so they’re often dried to preserve. This produces a tasty fruit that can be enjoyed all year round and has a whole range of different health benefits.
 
1. Prevents Constipation
In every three-fig serving there are 5 grams of fiber. This high concentration of fiber helps to promote healthy, regular bowel function and prevents constipation. Fiber works to add bulk and mass to bowel movements, so it not only prevents constipation, but it also eliminates diarrhea and unhealthy or irregular bowel movements.

2. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Figs contain pectin, which is a soluble fiber. When fiber moves through the digestive tract, it mops up clumps of cholesterol and carries them to the excretory system to be eliminated from the body. As a soluble fiber, pectin also stimulates healthy bowel movements.  They can have a laxative effect as they are one of the most fiber-dense foods available. To add to this, high amounts of fiber in your diet can benefit your overall health by preventing certain types of colon cancer.

3. Prevent Coronary Heart Disease
Dried figs contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. To add to this, fig leaves have an inhibitory effect on triglycerides, making their overall number decrease. Triglycerides are a major contributor to various heart diseases.

4. Prevents Breast Cancer
The fiber content in figs has been known to help protect against breast cancer. After menopause, the hormonal balance in women can often fluctuate. The body’s systems are so interconnected that these hormones affect the immune system, which in turn affect the ability of antioxidants to fight free radicals. Free radicals are a leading cause of cancer, so figs add an extra line of defense by providing fiber to the body.

5. Controls diabetes
The nutritionists recommend figs as a high-fiber treat that helps to promote functional control of diabetes. Fig leaves reduce the amount of insulin needed by diabetic patients who have to regularly take injections. Figs are rich in potassium, which helps to regulate the amount of sugar absorbed by the body after meals. Large amounts of potassium can ensure that blood sugar spikes and falls are not as frequent. In other words, figs can help diabetics to live a normal life.

6. Treat Bronchitis And Asthma
The natural chemicals in fig leaves make them a great component for a tea base. Fig leaf tea is often prescribed for various respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and asthma.
An efficient method to deal with bronchial asthma is to consume a mixture of powdered fenugreek seeds, honey, and figs. You can also consume fig juice to obtain relief from asthma.
Figs moisturize the mucous membrane and drain the phlegm, thereby relieving asthma symptoms. They also contain phytochemical compounds that fight the free radicals, which otherwise trigger asthma.


7. Strengthen Bones
Figs are rich in calcium, which is one of the most important components for strong bones. They are also rich in phosphorous, which encourages bone formation and spurs regrowth if there is any damage or degradation to bones.

8. Relieves Throat Pain
The high mucilage content in figs helps to heal and protect sore throats. The soothing nature of figs can help to relieve pain and stress on the vocal chords.

Figs are a natural cure for tonsillitis. They help in reducing the swelling and irritation caused due to the condition. Make a paste of the figs with warm water and apply it on your throat. It will reduce pain and soothe your throat.

9) Prevents Colon cancer 
 The fiber in figs helps to eliminate the waste in the body quickly, which works well for the prevention of colon cancer.
The numerous seeds in figs contain high levels of mucin that collects wastes and mucus in the colon and flushes them out.

10) Treats Anemia- 
Lack of iron in the body can cause iron-deficiency anemia. Dried figs contain iron, which is a key component of hemoglobin. Consuming dried figs was found to improve the hemoglobin levels in the blood.
Growing children, adolescents, and menstruating and pregnant women specifically should monitor their iron levels to avoid complications. After surgery or other major illness, include figs in your diet to overcome iron deficiency and recover quickly.

11)Rich In Antioxidants
Figs are a powerhouse of antioxidants, and they neutralize the free radicals in your body and fight diseases. The riper a fig is, the more antioxidants it contains.
Figs are a rich source of phenolic antioxidants. The antioxidants in figs enrich the lipoproteins in plasma and shield them from further oxidation


12) Regulates Blood Pressure
The fiber in figs lowers the risk of high blood pressure whereas the potassium content of figs helps maintain it. Apart from potassium, the omega-3s and omega-6s in figs also help in maintaining blood pressure.

13) Fights Sexual Dysfunction

Figs  are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc. They are also rich in magnesium, the mineral that is required to produce the sex hormones androgen and estrogen . These minerals are considered to be a great fertility and sexual supplement.
Figs  also produce an amino acid that is responsible for increasing the production of nitric oxide, which expands the blood vessels and increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the sexual organs.
Soak figs in milk overnight and eat them the next day to enhance your sexual abilities.

14)Prevent Macular Degeneration
Figs can help prevent macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss in older people.
Figs enhance your vision and prevent macular degeneration as they contain a high amount of vitamin A . Vitamin A is an antioxidant that improves eye health. It protects the eyes from free radicals and prevents retinal damage.

15) Improves Liver Health
Figs clear obstructions in the liver, thereby enhancing its health. A study showed that an extract prepared from fig leaves exhibited hepatoprotective activity in mice, paving the way for its use in preventing hepatic damage in humans.

16) SOUND SLEEP
A balanced diet is essential for good sleep. Including figs in your diet enhances the quality of your sleep. They contain the amino acid tryptophan that helps your body create melatonin, which induces sleep .
Figs also contain omega-3 fatty acids that help you to sleep better. The tryptophan present in figs helps in synthesizing vitamin B3 in your body, which keeps insomnia at bay. Lack of vitamin B3 in your body makes you unstable and restless, which can spoil your sleep.
Figs are a rich source of magnesium. Lack of magnesium in the body causes stress and irritability, which lead to insomnia.

17) BOOSTS IMMUNITY
Figs kill bacteria, viruses, and roundworms in your body, which can otherwise cause health issues. They contain nutrients like potassium and manganese which along with the antioxidants, boost your immune system.
  
18) CURES BOILS AND WARTS
 You can apply a fig directly on the skin to bring down various forms of skin inflammation like boils and abscess. A study found that the latex of the fig tree exhibited anti-wart activity. This could be due to the proteolytic activity of the latex enzymes.

19) GOOD FOR SKIN
A study found that fig extract had an anti-oxidative and anti collagenase effect on wrinkled skin and reduced the percentage of wrinkle depth .
In another study, it was found that a formulation containing fig fruit extract decreased skin melanin, trans-epidermal water loss, and skin sebum significantly. It also increased skin hydration. Hence, figs could be used as a remedy for hyper pigmentation, acne, freckles, and wrinkles
 




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