What is a fig? The valuable health benefits of figs

Although it is a fruit with many very good health benefits, many people do not know about this fruit. To answer all those questions, let’s find out with Tnhelearning.edu.vn right through the following article.

What is a fig?

The fig fruit, scientifically known as Ficus auriculata, is a plant in the mulberry family and is related to figs. They are native to countries in Asia, southern China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and even Vietnam.

Fig is an evergreen tree with an average height of 5 – 10m, leaves are large, oval, hairy on the underside and serrated on the outer edge. Fig flowers usually grow at the base or on the branches, when old will develop into fruit. Figs when young are green and hairy, shaped like a garlic bulb.

What is a fig?

The older the fruit, the larger and flatter the fruit will be. The flesh of figs is white when young and turns red when ripe. They are usually fairly easy to grow and don’t require much care.

Fig trees often grow in wet places such as streams, appear all year round and are distributed mainly in Asia, specifically Southeast Asia such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In Vietnam, figs are distributed mainly in Thua Thien – Hue province.

Nutrition of figs

Nutrition of figs

The main nutritional components in figs are very diverse and abundant, on average in 100g figs include:

• 1.3g protein
• 0.3g fat
• B vitamins such as 0.085mg vitamin B1, 0.082mg vitamin B2, 0.619mg vitamin B3, 0.434mg vitamin B5, 0.106mg vitamin B6
• 1.2g vitamin C
• 162 mg of calcium
• 68 mg of magnesium
• And other minerals such as: phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese. Moreover, studies have also shown many rare compounds in figs such as flavonoids, polyphenols and pectins.

What types of figs are there?

Based on color as well as texture, people divide figs into many different types, but there are 3 common types:

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes

Unlike other figs, when ripe, there are usually a lot of mosquitoes inside. They are often used to make dishes including delicious pickles.

Fig

Fig

They have the characteristic that when ripe, they are purple-red in color and are usually larger in size than the other two types. When split, the inside is divided into 3 distinct layers , the outermost layer is white, the middle layer is red and the innermost layer is yellow with many tassels like cotton.

The flesh of the fig is yellow-brown, similar to jelly, when eaten, it has a sweet taste. Young honey figs are also used to make dishes including pickles.

Raspberry fig

Raspberry fig

The reason it is so named is because the raspberry fig has a similar way of growing under the root of a raspberry. Raspberry figs when raw will have a bitter and hard taste, when ripe, they will have a sweet taste. The way to distinguish from the above 2 types of figs is that the leaves are smaller and the stem is shorter than the other 2 types.

Uses of figs

According to many modern medical studies, figs have many health benefits such as:

Prevent cancer

Figs help prevent cancer

Coumarin in figs reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Eating figs regularly also helps prevent breast cancer and some other types of cancer like colon cancer in both sexes.

Lower cholesterol

Figs help lower cholesterol

Figs contain pectin, also known as soluble fiber, which has cholesterol-lowering effects. Eating a lot of figs also helps to reduce triglycerides in the blood , which helps protect health from cardiovascular diseases or obesity.

Prevent high blood pressure and heart attack

Figs help prevent high blood pressure and heart attacks

Thanks to the content of potassium, omega 3 and omega 6 in figs, it will help maintain stable blood pressure and effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Help strengthen bones

Figs help strengthen bones

As a fruit rich in vitamin K2, calcium and magnesium, figs have great effects in protecting and strengthening the skeleton, helping to prevent osteoporosis and increase bone density, healing bone injuries. joint.

In addition, this is also a perfect alternative for those who are allergic to milk, have the opportunity to supplement calcium for the body.

Prevent anemia

Figs help prevent anemia

Figs contain a lot of iron, which is an important component in the creation of blood cells for the body. Pregnant women are also advised to add figs to their menu to help keep red blood cells high.

Support weight loss

Figs help with weight loss

As a fruit rich in fiber and very low in energy, figs are good for dieters and people with obesity.

In addition, the amount of pectin and fiber in figs also help improve the functioning of the digestive system, optimizing the metabolism. Thereby helping the amount of fat and excess fat to be released from the body easily, bringing great weight loss results.

Antioxidant

Figs help with anti-oxidants

The antioxidants in figs work to prevent harmful free radicals, which are the cause of many dangerous diseases. In particular, figs provide excellent protective benefits for the eyes, against the condition of macular degeneration (ARMD) that can cause blindness.

Diabetes treatment

Figs help cure diabetes

The high amount of potassium in lychee helps regulate blood sugar, prevent diabetes and prevent calcium loss in the urine caused by a diet too high in sodium.

Prevent acne

Figs help prevent acne

The high alkaline mineral content of figs works to balance the pH of the skin, thereby preventing acne effectively.

Remedy from figs

Remedies for damaged spleen, diarrhea, poor digestion

We use dried figs, cut pomegranate seeds, then copy them with granulated sugar and add filtered water, drink water instead of tea. In a short period of time, symptoms will be significantly reduced.

Remedy for sore throat

Use 100g of young figs, 50g of dog leaves and 30g of bamboo buds, pound them to make them hot and then cover the sore throat. You do it twice a day and maintain for a few days, it will be effective.

Remedy for cold or poisoning

Remedies from figs

Using figs about 200g, 50g cat hook leaves, 50g root soup, the above herbs are dried, yellow star, taken 2 times a day for 1 month, the disease will be reduced.

Remedy for constipation

For people with constipation, use 5 well-cooked figs with 100g of sweet potatoes and add 30g of sugar, stir well. Drink twice a day for 3-4 days, the condition will improve.

Medicine to increase breast milk secretion

Figs you dry, grind into powder, mix with water to drink 12g each time. Drink 2 times a day, after 3-5 days of use will see more milk secretion.

Who should/shouldn’t use figs?

People who should not use figs

Children : because figs contain a large amount of sugar, when eaten, it will easily cause diarrhea and tooth decay for children.

People with hypoglycemia : is a food that helps people with diabetes but is not good for people with low blood sugar.

People who are allergic to natural rubber latex

People with liver and kidney diseases : in figs, there are components that are harmful to people with these diseases.

People who are taking diabetes medications : If you are already on medication, you should not eat figs as this will cause blood sugar to drop too much.

Who should/shouldn’t use figs?

People preparing for surgery : Due to the hypoglycemic effect, eating before surgery will make it difficult for doctors to control blood sugar during surgery.

People who are taking anticoagulant drugs : vitamin K in figs has anticoagulant effects, when people are taking anticoagulants, eating figs will make bleeding more difficult to control.

People with gout : high calcium content will inhibit the excretion of uric acid.

People with osteoarthritis : when eating figs, it will interfere with calcium absorption, making bones and joints weaker.

Who should use figs?

In addition to the above cases, you can safely use figs.

Delicious dishes from figs

Figs mixed with rice paper

Figs mixed with rice paper

First, people choose fresh lychees with pink and red flesh, then boil them soft, take them out, put them in a pot of cold water to cool, and then peel them. Use a knife to cut thinly and squeeze out the water.

Next, put the crushed figs and pork belly, pork skin, shrimp, white sesame into the bowl and mix with the spices to create a very eye-catching and attractive dish.

Young ribs stewed with figs

Young ribs stewed with figs

To make this dish, we cut the young ribs into small pieces, peel the figs, and then split the areca. Stir-fry pork ribs with purple onion, then add figs and stir well, season with more spices. Finally, you put filtered water into the stew for about 15 minutes to soften the ribs, turn off the heat and scoop out into a bowl to enjoy.

Sweet and sour figs

Sweet and sour figs

People choose figs that are not too old, mixed with a little salt and lemon juice to reduce the acrid taste. Next, soak the figs with a mixture of vinegar and boiled sugar, add some minced chili and garlic. This dish is extremely attractive to eat with raw vegetables, banh khot or spring rolls will be great.

Fig salad

Fig salad

Fig salad is made by peeling off the outer skin of figs, then bleaching them with a mixture of lemon juice. Squeeze out the water, then mix it with boiled meat, shrimp and a little fried onion served with chili garlic fish sauce. Crispy fig salad combined with sweet meat and shrimp is extremely attractive.

Fig soup cooked with pig’s feet

Pork sausage soup

People cut pork into small pieces and then boil it briefly, stew the meat until soft, and then season with spices for the meat to absorb evenly.

Then bring boiled fresh figs, cut into thin slices. Stew pork and figs for about 15 minutes to produce a delicious and nutritious fig stew. The dish is not only delicious but also full of nutrients for your body.

Where to buy figs? How much?

Where to buy figs? How much?

Currently, you can find figs at markets, supermarkets or refer to some online websites such as caythuocquytribenh.com, taoduochochiminh.com,… with prices ranging from 100,000 – 150,000 VND/kg.

Recently, Tnhelearning.edu.vn introduced to you all about figs, a fruit with many great uses for human health. Hope you have gained more useful information through this article.

Source: Synthesis

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