Useful properties of figs for the body. Why dried figs are useful, how to choose the right one, use it deliciously and store it for a long time

Fig fruits and leaves have long been used as a medicine in folk medicine. Fresh figs are recommended for quick recovery of cardiac activity when the heart muscle is weakened, as a hematopoietic agent for anemia, and also for reducing excess acidity in gastrointestinal diseases. It is used for hypokalemia and for diseases of the cardiovascular system, when potassium is also needed.

Fig fruit and condensed fruit juice are used for cardiovascular diseases, anemia and loss of strength. The thick extract is a dark brown slurry with a fragrant odor and pleasant taste. It has a moderate diuretic effect. So, for example, in patients with decompensation of the cardiovascular system, urination increased up to 50%. The recommended dose is -100 g once a day (in the morning). Since the drug is very nutritious and does not side effects, it can be accepted long time.

Fig seedlings also have an expectorant and emollient effect. In Renaissance Europe, there was a whole collection of fruits used for "chest diseases." In our modern understanding, these are bronchitis, tracheitis, and even tuberculosis and pneumonia. This nutrient-expectorant composition included equal parts dry fruits of grapes, figs, jujube and dates. The calorie content of this mixture, as you can see, is huge, but with debilitating and prolonged illnesses, this is exactly what is needed.

In Central Asia, they are boiled with milk and used for coughs, whooping cough, and also as an emollient for pain in the chest, throat and colds. French medicine uses cough syrup. It is prepared as follows: 500 g of figs are boiled in 1 liter of water. After they boil, add 250 g of honey and (optionally) 250 ml of good cognac. All mix and store in the refrigerator in a well-closed container. Apply 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for coughs and other colds.

And here is the recipe for “coffee” from figs, which is prepared as follows: dry fruits ground into powder are brewed like real coffee at the rate of 1-2 teaspoons per 1 glass of water. Drink warm in small sips for colds. This drink got its name from the coffee-like color. The invigorating effect here, of course, is not provided for by the chemical composition, but there are quite a lot of calories.

With gastritis in Serbian folk medicine, the following recipe is recommended: For 1 liter of olive oil, take 20 g of St. John's wort and 10 pcs. fig fruits (grind), leave for 40 days; in the morning, drink the protein of one egg, and after half an hour, take a tablespoon of the prepared mixture.

In medicine, preparations based on dried fruits, primarily prunes and figs, are used to improve intestinal motility in elderly and senile people suffering from constipation on this basis. The combined drug "Re-gulax" was produced in the GDR in the form of fruit cubes of 8.4 g each containing the pulp of fig fruits, senna leaves and fruits, vaseline oil. The domestic complex preparation "Kafiol" is produced in the form of dark brown briquettes with a peculiar fruity smell and taste. This preparation also contains the pulp of the fruits of figs and plums, leaves and fruits of senna (cassia holly) and vaseline oil. It has a laxative effect and is prescribed internally for constipation, especially persistent, 1-2 briquettes per night, and the briquettes are chewed and washed down with a small amount of water. In children's medical practice, fig fruit syrup is used as a mild laxative.

At home, with constipation, the following recipe is recommended. Take 0.5 kg of dry figs and plums, pour 3 liters of water, boil until it evaporates to 2.5 liters; drink 100 g before and after meals and eat a few plums and pieces of figs. The rest of the decoction and thick to take a little during the day and the next day. Option: boil 0.5 kg of figs for 30 minutes in 1.5 liters of water, drink this decoction every 2 hours for 100 g, and eat figs.

Contraindications. There is a lot of fiber in figs, so you should not use it for acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and because of sugar - with diabetes. It is also contraindicated for gout, since it contains a lot of oxalic acid (up to 100 mg%).

The diuretic properties of figs have been known for a long time. It has been used to improve digestion and as a means to increase urination, especially in gout, which is associated with impaired uric acid metabolism.

At present, decoctions and jams from figs are taken in folk medicine as a diaphoretic and antipyretic affinity. A decoction of inflorescences boiled in milk or water (2 tablespoons of dry inflorescences per 1 glass of milk or water) is considered a good remedy for gargling with sore throat, hoarseness and dry cough, and as an expectorant - for oral administration with tracheitis and bronchitis. The same decoction is drunk half a cup 2-4 times a day for diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Sometimes a decoction of figs is advised to drink with gastritis, constipation. Outwardly, a decoction is used for poultice with abscesses, flux, etc. Sometimes, to speed up ripening, fresh or soaked dried fruits are applied to abscesses.

The steamed fruit is an excellent compress for an abscess on the gums and gumboil. Similarly, half of the steamed fruit can be applied to any suppuration, boil or carbuncle.

Recently, figs have been widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. "Ficin" has a fibrinolytic effect and is used to treat thrombosis. From the milky juice of the leaves, the drug Furoden is obtained, recommended in the treatment of leukoderma.

Infusion of fig leaves helps with bronchial asthma and kidney disease. An aqueous decoction of the leaves of young branches is used as an antihelminthic, and fresh fig leaves are applied to boils. In the folk medicine of Armenia, tincture of leaves on vodka is drunk for malaria.

In medical practice, the drug "Psoberan" from fig leaves is approved for use. It contains a mixture of furocoumarins and has a photosensitizing ability (increases skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays), enhancing pigment formation in the skin. It is prescribed for the treatment of skin diseases - vitiligo and alopecia areata. You-let in tablets and in the form of an alcohol solution.

In Armenian folk medicine, when coughing, as well as diarrhea, they use a decoction of dried leaves of a fig tree. In Georgia, a decoction of a mixture of fig leaves and nettle is given for dysentery. The milky juice of figs is used to treat wounds and remove acne. Fig seeds are known as a laxative - for constipation, a single dose of 10-15 g of seeds is prescribed.

Photo: Rita Brilliantova, Maria Telnova

figs- This is a deciduous tree, belongs to the Mulberry family and is included in the genus Ficus. The plant came into human use quite a long time ago, starting from the end of the eleventh century BC. Today, figs are a common crop in the Mediterranean countries, the Carpathians, Georgia, Abkhazia and the Black Sea coast.

Figs are called differently: "Fig", "Common fig tree", "Fig tree", "wine berry", "fig". So the name "fig tree" is quite often found in the text of the Bible and the Old Testament. The tree has a smooth bark with a light gray tint. The hard leaves of the plant are large, located on the branches in turn, have from three to seven lobes that resemble the fingers of a palm.

Figs: how it grows, description

Inflorescences develop on shortened shoots located in the leaf axils. The inflorescences are divided into male caprifigs and female figs, appearing on different trees. Male inflorescences look like a bouquet of small flowers, while female flowers in the inflorescence are quite large.

After pollination, female flowers form seedlings, where each fruit is a nutlet. In the process of pollination of most species of figs, small, black blastophagous wasps play an important role. Only some parthenocarpic varieties obtained in the breeding process can do without pollinating insects.

The fig is covered with a thin, delicate peel with tiny hairs. To taste it is fragrant, meaty and sweet. The color of the fruit can be different: purple, yellow, yellow-green and dark blue. Ripe, fresh fruits contain a lot of sugars. According to some sources, this is about 24%, according to others up to 75%. Also in figs are fats, organic acids, proteins and coumarin. Unripe fruits are not eaten because of the content of milky juice in them.

The economic value of figs is due to its nutritional value and excellent taste. In cooking, figs are used to make various jams and preserves. They are dried and preserved and used in baking bread. The fruits of the fig tree are also used in medicine. To do this, after harvesting, the leaves are collected from the tree, dried and crushed. From the raw materials obtained, a drug is made for the treatment of skin diseases (baldness and skin pigmentation).

The fruits themselves have medicinal properties that help in the fight against diseases of the throat, bronchi and lungs. Due to the fact that the fruits of the fig tree contain a large number of iron, they are used in preparations for patients with anemia.

Because of the elegant and showy foliage, the fig tree is often grown as an ornamental, indoor crop. The tree is planted in a large tub or pot and carefully looked after. However, it is almost impossible to achieve flowering and fruiting at home.

Useful properties of figs, composition and calorie content

Surely, those who have visited the Mediterranean countries at least once, as well as Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey or China, did not miss the opportunity to try the valuable and tasty fig fruit.

On the one hand, it costs less at home, and on the other hand, they are used to importing it to Europe exclusively in dried form, because fig fruits are very sensitive to even minor mechanical stress, which is why they deteriorate almost instantly. It is now that manufacturers carefully pack the fruit in separate cardboard containers and export it to other countries where there is no such “miracle” of nature.

Of course, doctors recommend, if possible, to use the fruits of wild varieties. But “tasting” them will be possible only in the homeland of figs, which not everyone can go to. Therefore, you have to buy a cultivated version. It was created in order to obtain large yields, which is why the plant does not contain male inflorescences and, as a result, inedible caprifigs.

Seriously, the consumer does not always pay attention to rounded or pear-shaped juicy fruits, modestly reclining on store and market stalls, covered with light gray skin (although, depending on the variety, it can be brown, and green, and even bright orange) with honey taste and numerous small seeds inside, called nuts. Indeed, in appearance they are unattractive, but in terms of their “useful” composition they are priceless.

dried figs

Fig fruits are characterized by:

• almost complete absence of fats and, as a result, cholesterol; it contains only carbohydrates and some proteins;
• high content of various sugars (they make up about 70% of the total composition of the pulp) and useful organic acids;
• the presence of vitamins of groups B, C and A (although the latter is represented in a negligible percentage, which allows people who are allergic to carotene to use this fruit);
• the content of such important trace elements as potassium, calcium, manganese, iron.

So what are the benefits and harms of figs in its use?

If we evaluate the impact of all these components, then we can indicate a number of useful properties from eating fresh figs:

1. Normalization of blood pressure. Doctors point out that the main cause of hypertension is an imbalance of potassium and sodium in the human body. And if you include figs in the diet, then the pressure will not only normalize, but will also acquire a stable rate.
2. Strengthening the skeletal system. Due to the fact that a tasty fruit contains a sufficient amount of calcium, a person has the opportunity, without the use of special calcified preparations that adversely affect the kidneys, to maintain bone density and strength. After all, the use of one fruit fills the daily need of the body for this microelement. Figs are especially useful for pregnant women and those who have crossed the threshold of menopause, when dangerous osteoporosis most often develops.
3. Removal of toxic substances. Figs are included in the group of antioxidant fruits.
4. Treatment of urinary and gallstone disease. It was found that the juice and pulp of this fruit gently and painlessly crush stones in the gallbladder and kidneys.

Useful properties of figs for weight loss

NEW RESEARCH ON THE PROPERTIES OF FIGS

Scientific developments of scientists recent years allow to draw a conclusion about the qualitative impact of figs on weight loss. Initially, in Asian countries, where the berry comes from, figs were used not only to improve health, but also to lose weight.

The ability of figs to perfectly cleanse the blood vessels of the body from cholesterol, to have a beneficial effect on the digestive system, makes this berry valuable in the diet. healthy eating. Vitamin composition (vitamin B complex), carotene, nicotinic acid - all these are the “jewels” of the “wine berry”. For example, nicotinic acid can normalize the work of the stomach, become a means of preventing atherosclerosis.

Nutritionists appreciate the minerals in figs, which play a leading role in eliminating extra pounds. Losing weight is not an easy burden, which is why the fig-based diet is so attractive in this regard. Potassium, which is contained in the berry, normalizes the body's water balance, reduces accumulated fatigue, and is responsible for the functioning of all blood vessels and muscles. Moreover, it is potassium that makes a significant contribution to the prevention of atherosclerosis.

"NON-EXISTENT" FIG DIET

Nutritionists in their pure form do not distinguish a diet based solely on figs. The berry itself contains sugar in large quantities, for example, 3 fresh berries are 50 kilocalories, but 100 grams in dried form is already 250 kilocalories.

Experts, based on the data obtained, came to the conclusion that the abuse of figs is dangerous for the figure, but 10 berries a day is the norm for healthy and wholesome food. For example, eating 2 figs half an hour before dinner, you can provoke the disappearance, dull the feeling of hunger and reduce the amount of food during the lunch meal.

Figs in an amount of up to 8 pieces can be a great treat for dinner or an afternoon snack. It is known that nutritionists recommend sometimes, if possible, to arrange days of unloading based on figs. So, it is more expedient to eat only figs and any, but unsweetened drink for an afternoon snack.

Figs - a source of energy

Juicy fig fruits perfectly quench thirst and hunger for a long time. The daily need of the human body for potassium and life-affirming calcium, giving strength to the gland is satisfied by eating 20 fruits of this berry.

The properties of figs are invaluable to consumers during the berry harvest period, since at this time (1 month) you can easily arrange unloading afternoon snacks. A diet based on figs copes with excess weight, allows muscles to strengthen, and vitality to recover. Experts have found that figs improve immunity.

The harm of figs for the body

There are also contraindications to the use of this product:

First of all, diabetes. It is also important to know that people suffering from gout should not consume this fruit in large quantities, because it contains a large amount of oxalic acid.

Due to the high fiber content, people who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of an inflammatory nature should also stop eating this useful fruit, because it can aggravate and exacerbate the underlying disease.

Along with having beneficial properties, this fruit is considered harmful to eat for people suffering from pancreatic diseases.

It is contraindicated to use figs for pancreatitis. Also, if you have indigestion, then you should take care of yourself, because having a good effect on constipation, it will have the opposite effect on diarrhea, thereby causing dehydration.

You can’t eat figs even before driving (it turns out that it synthesizes alcohol in the blood).

Useful properties of figs for women

Skin and hair care: recipes for homemade cosmetics with figs

What is useful figs for women? Oriental beauties actively include figs in their delicate skin care program. To feel the amazing effect of rejuvenation, just cut the fruit into two halves, and then gently massage your face and neck. After fifteen minutes, you can wash clean water without adding soap.

All over the world, cosmetologists love and appreciate figs for such “talents”:

It remarkably strengthens the hair, protecting them from damage and overdrying;
fruits contribute to deep hydration, cleansing and toning the skin;
figs effectively smooth wrinkles, give the skin firmness and elasticity;
it literally erases blackheads, pimples and other unattractive rashes from the face;
fig tree fruits noticeably improve the condition of the nails: they gain strength and strength.

Conclusion: Such multifaceted properties of figs make it possible to lay it in the basis of delicate tonics and scrubs, as well as face and hair masks.

Mask with figs for all skin types

This care product allows you to use both fresh and dried fruits. In the case of dried figs, it must first be soaked in milk or boiled water - for only fifteen minutes.

Next, 2 pieces need to be chopped in a blender, then combined with 1 yolk, a tablespoon of bee honey and a similar amount of any vegetable oil(better than olive or grape seeds). The composition is applied to clean, dry skin.

In addition to the face, you can also pamper the décolleté and neck. The active action of the mask takes about twenty-five minutes, then it must be removed wet wipe dipped in mineral water.

Mask with figs for aging skin

If you combine figs with mango, you get an excellent tool to maintain youthful skin. To prepare a smoothing mask, you will need the following components:

fig fruits (2 pieces),
peach oil (1 tablespoon),
ripe mango (1 piece),
egg(1 piece),
cottage cheese (half a cup),
honey (20 ml).

After all the ingredients are well mixed, the mask is applied to the face for half an hour (the composition must be warm). Remove it with a cotton swab moistened with fresh milk. Then the face is additionally rinsed with warm water.

The duration of application of the nourishing mask is 2 months, the optimal number of procedures is 1-2 during each week.

Mask with figs for dry skin care

Figs allow you to quickly and easily cope with inflammation on dry skin. It intensively moisturizes, gives velvety and heals all microdamages of the skin.

It will take only 1 ripe fruit of a fig tree. It should be cleaned, kneaded and combined with 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese. Curd - fig mask is left for twenty to thirty minutes, you need to remove it with milk and warm water.

Moisturizing mask with figs

This tool perfectly copes with the tasks of moisturizing and nourishing, while improving complexion. You will need:

Almond oil (1 tablespoon)
figs (3 pieces),
honey (1 tablespoon),
egg (1 piece),
milk (200 milliliters),
oatmeal (half a cup).

Figs must be peeled and boiled in milk. Then, after mixing with the rest of the ingredients, it is thoroughly whipped with a blender.

The mask, aged for forty minutes, is best used in the autumn - winter season (when the skin needs enhanced care). The frequency of repetitions is up to two procedures per week for a couple of months.

Mask with figs for puffy skin

Aging skin, prone to inflammation and puffiness, will be strengthened by a mask based on figs, apples and bananas. The composition is as follows:

figs (2 pieces),

fat cottage cheese (2 tablespoons),
banana (1 fruit),
egg (1 piece),
sour apple (1 piece),
peach oil (20 ml),
oil solution of vitamin E (10 drops).

Cottage cheese, an egg and the pulp of each of the fruits must be properly chopped in a blender. Vitamin can be added both before and after whipping, the main thing is to achieve a homogeneous, thoroughly mixed consistency.

The presented mask is used not only on the skin of the face and neck, but also in the décolleté area. It can also be used as a nourishing hand cream. The composition should be applied in a dense layer, the duration of the procedure should not be longer than forty minutes. It is recommended to remove the remnants of the care product first with a napkin, and then alternately with warm and cool water (ideally mineral).

The traditional course is 2 months, 3 procedures per week. The mask works especially well in winter.

Fig Toning Lotion

In order for the skin to acquire a healthy, delicate and radiant appearance, it should be treated more often with a useful fig lotion. It is prepared extremely simply: you just need to make an infusion at the rate of 25 grams of fruit per glass of boiling water. It takes several hours for the components to come into active action, after which the infusion is filtered.

You need to wipe your face with this natural lotion daily, in several approaches.

Figs for teeth whitening

Achieve a dazzling smile? There is nothing easier! All you need is fig ash and some glycerin. The components are combined with each other to the consistency of a thick paste. You should brush your teeth with it every day.

Fig hair mask

Useful goodies perfectly manifests itself in hair care. To improve the quality of the hair and cure split ends, you will need a couple of dried figs and 200 ml of milk.

The fruits must be poured with milk and brought to a boil over low heat. Then, still in slow mode, the composition is boiled to a homogeneous consistency. After some cooling, the mask can be applied to the hair. Daily use is allowed.

Obviously, such a delicacy as figs is worthy of the title of a tireless fighter for female beauty!

Fig jam

Fig jam will become a real ray of light in winter, which will fill your home with a bright aroma and exquisite taste.

To make fig jam, you need to peel 100 green figs. Remember to wear gloves before cleaning. Boil until half cooked in plenty of water. Rinse the cooked figs in cold water and squeeze lightly.
Boil 1 kg of sugar in three glasses of water until a thick syrup is obtained.

When ready, add the figs and cook over medium heat until the water is completely absorbed into the figs. And finally, add 1 tbsp. lemon juice. Boil and remove from heat. For more flavor, you can put an asterisk of cloves or vanillin.

Figs in syrup

For 2.5 liters:

- a kilogram of figs;
- 700 g of sugar;
- two or three star anise stars;
- one and a half glasses of water;
- a teaspoon of vanillin;
- lemon;
- cinnamon stick (4 cm).

Cooking progress.

1. Wash the figs and put them in a colander, dip in boiling water for a minute, then transfer to cold water.
2. Combine water with sugar, mix and put on fire. When bubbles begin to form, remove from heat, squeeze lemon juice into it, mix. Immerse all the figs and spices in the syrup, cover with a lid and leave for six to eight hours.
3. Boil figs in syrup for three to five minutes (count from the moment of boiling), remove from heat, cover with a lid and leave overnight. In the morning, boil again for five minutes (from the moment of boiling), remove from heat.
4. Fill prepared jars with figs, pour syrup on top. Roll up, can be closed with plastic lids. Store figs in syrup in a dark place.

Figs: planting and care in the open field

When choosing a seedling, you need to choose the right fig variety.

Violet Sukhumi, Sochi-7, Kadota, Solar- these varieties of figs with their tasty and juicy fruits are suitable for growing in open and closed ground, or indoors. Brunswick, Panashi, Brown Turkey, red Bordeaux, Crimean black, Dalmatian, are very common in different regions and withstand up to 20 degrees below zero.

To protect the fig from icing, it must be wrapped in paper, film or bent to the ground for the winter and sprinkled with foliage and covered with spunbond.

Different varieties differ in their requirements for pollination. There are varieties that are self-pollinating, requiring pollination or are self-fertile.

Figs can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, roots or layering. When buying a seedling, you need to find out by what method it was propagated, and whether the parent tree had fruits.

Seeds rarely take root, and the grown plant produces small fruits, because of this, this method is rarely used. For breeding from seeds, you need fruits from a self-fertile tree or a tree pollinated by male flowers from a neighboring fig tree.

A stalk with four buds should have oblique cuts on both sides. It is planted in a container with a mixture of peat, earth and sand, which is pre-calcined and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate. To form a good root system, small notches are made above the cut.

The lower cut should be deepened to the second eye from the bottom. The upper one, rise above one, two kidneys above the ground.

Also, the cutting can be placed in a jar of water with the addition of growth accelerators, this method allows you to quickly root the plant and transplant it immediately into the ground.

A planted cutting in the ground or a container should be covered with polyethylene or a cut bottle.

Fig cuttings require constant moisture. The direct rays of the sun should not fall on the plant, but it should not grow in the shade either. After half a month, the film or bottle can be removed for a day and eventually removed for good. To adapt, it needs to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle several times a day.

Transplanting into the ground from a container can be done when green leaves appear and the plant is fully rooted. Fruiting begins after two years. Until this moment, the plant grows intensively, then growth stops.

In the spring, top dressing is carried out with nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers. In summer and early autumn, you can fertilize with humus, superphosphate fertilizers and potassium salt.

Basal shoots and layering, sprinkled with earth, take root and grow best. The branches are dug in and watered, after a couple of months the plant can be separated from the mother and transplanted. In a couple of years, these layers will bear fruit.

For a transplant, you need to choose a place on the south windless side. The roots of the plant, if they are without an earthen coma, are dipped in liquid diluted clay. In cool climates, figs are recommended to be planted in a trench.

For good fruiting, you need to form the crown of a tree or bush. With a growth of 30 centimeters, the central shoot pinches. An adult plant should have 4 main branches. To form a small bush, excess branches are removed.

Figs, with proper care, can grow in different latitudes and on different soils. It belongs to cold-resistant plants, and when good choice planting material, grows in beautiful bush or a tree that produces healthy and tasty fruits up to two times a year.

Video: Figs benefits for the body

Botanical characteristics of figs

Figs (fig tree, fig, wine berry) belong to the Crassulaceae family. It is a dioecious deciduous fruit tree. The height of the trunk is on average 10–20 m. The roots of the plant are powerful, woody, rooted deep enough in the soil. Common figs have dioecious flowers, collected in inflorescences, which can be spherical, pear-shaped or flattened.

The fruit has a thin skin, is a small achene, located inside a fleshy pear-shaped receptacle, weighs 20–75 g. The fig tree grows in Asia Minor (the birthplace of the plant), occurs naturally in Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey and Central Asia . Figs are grown as a cultivated plant in the Caucasus and Crimea.

Useful properties of figs

Fig fruits contain sugars, pectin, proteins, fats, apple and citric acid. Anthocyanin glycosides, pantothenic and folic acids are present. Useful action on the body and work various systems provide vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, PP. Carotene, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper are very effective in many diseases - these substances are involved in all processes of the vital organs of the human body.

The leaves of the plant are rich in furocoumarin, psoralen and bergapten. Tannins and resinous substances were also found in them. In addition to ascorbic acid and rutin, there is an essential oil.

Figs have a laxative, diuretic and expectorant effect, lower blood cholesterol levels, and its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for cardiovascular and nervous system. The plant also has anti-inflammatory properties.

The use of figs

Official medicine has long recognized figs as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for many diseases. The fruits of a tasty and healthy fruit are used in the treatment of blockage of the pulmonary artery, vein thrombosis, to restore the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The diuretic properties of figs make it possible to use it in diseases of the kidneys, hypertension.

The plant exhibits an expectorant effect in case of colds, alleviates severe conditions with bronchitis and laryngitis. Broths, jams, boiled figs in milk have a diaphoretic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Decoction of figs: 2 tablespoons of dried figs are boiled in 1 glass of milk until softened. Take the drug 100 g 2-3 times a day. Such a medicine is recommended for, for gargling, externally in the form of poultices for acute inflammatory formation in the periosteum or connective tissue, abscesses,.

Fig fruits are useful for both adults and children. If you need to get rid of boils and, urticaria and ulcers, fresh leaves must be applied to the diseased area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin. The use of fresh fruits is recommended for weakened people who have suffered any illness. Figs can be dried, and in this or fresh form they are useful in epilepsy. Fruit juice helps to remove sand from the kidneys, heal wounds. You can get rid of warts and birthmarks by applying crushed unripe fruits to the skin.

The ashes of fig wood are insisted on water and lotions are made with this liquid for inflammation of the nerve. Fig leaves help with hardening of the eyelids and thickening of the membranes of the eyes. The resulting milky juice from figs is used to treat the initial stage of cataracts, remove the wet veil. and trace elements that make up figs contribute to the production of serotonin, a substance that improves mood and improves well-being. Folic acid is useful for pregnant women, as it participates in hematopoietic processes and supports the immune system. Figs are considered the richest fruit in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, sodium and fiber. Figs are a leader in the content of minerals, which are so necessary in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Calcium has a beneficial effect on bones and. Thanks to fiber, the body easily fights cholesterol and gets rid of toxins. Delicious jams, marshmallows, sweets, compotes, wine, vinegar are prepared from fig fruits.

dried figs

In dried and dried form, the fruit has a high concentration of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and sugar. 100 grams of this valuable product contains three hundred and forty kilocalories, so this is a very nutritious fruit. It is especially recommended to use it for problems with blood vessels and the heart, the ficin enzyme has a beneficial effect on the treatment of thrombosis.

Dried figs are effective as an antipyretic and have a diaphoretic effect. The medicinal fruit acts as a laxative, and a miraculous decoction of dried figs in milk is used for whooping cough, dry cough, and swelling of the vocal cords. Dried fruits today can be bought at any supermarket, you need to choose light yellow fruits. They fill the body with energy, give strength, cheer up. Figs are used as an antitumor agent, they are taken during irradiation and anemia.

Figs with cough milk

In folk medicine, with coughing fits during a cold and with a decoction of fig fruits in milk, they are used. The course of treatment should be continued for 10-15 days, the drug will relieve cough and increase the body's resistance to respiratory diseases.

Recipe for figs in milk: to prepare a healing drink, you need to take 1.5 liters of pasteurized milk with a fat content of 3.2%, pour it into an enameled pan, heat it, place one medium-sized well-washed fresh or dried fruit there, bring to a boil. With the lid tightly closed, the composition should be kept for 0.5 hours on low heat until the volume decreases by about 1/3, then wrap the pan to steam the figs and leave it to cool completely: 3-4 hours is enough for the figs to give up all their beneficial properties .

It is necessary to store the product in a jar, tightly closed with a nylon lid, in the refrigerator. More than 0.5 liters of the drug cannot be cooked, on the second day it will thicken, it will be a little viscous.

Calorie content of figs

Fresh figs contain up to 24% sugars, dried ones - from 50 to 77%. The calorie content of dried fruits is 214 kcal per 100 grams, this is due to the high sugar content, it is impossible to eat a lot of them, a feeling of fullness quickly arises. If there is a body's need for sweet foods and at the same time you want to maintain harmony, then it is better to use figs. Since one fruit contains on average 40 to 50 calories and approximately 2 grams of carbohydrates, it is healthier than any candy. The fruits have very little fat.

Fig cultivation

Figs is quite exotic plant, not very adapted to living in Russia or Ukraine. But gardeners have learned to grow this crop in the southern regions, even on open field. The tree loves good lighting. It does not grow well in direct sunlight, prefers moist soil. Figs are characterized by parthenocarpy - the formation of fruits without fertilization. Deciduous plant in general is not very demanding to care for, but needs good drainage.

During its development, it is necessary to limit the growth of the root system in order to prevent the growth of branches and trunk in height, otherwise such a tree will produce a small crop. Before planting, it is necessary to clean the soil from weeds, apply mineral fertilizer. Every spring around the fig tree should be mulched with rotted manure. After the formation of skeletal branches to obtain a sufficient number of fruit branches, pruning is performed, removing about half of the old fruit branches and shortening them to two leaves. This is done after the removal of the first and second harvest.

Fig Recipes

A decoction of dry fig seedlings in milk: 20 g of dry seedlings are poured into 1 cup of boiling milk and boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. They drink a decoction with hot fruits for coughing, bronchial, tumors.

Decoction of fig fruits:

Recipe number 1: two tablespoons of dry seedlings should be poured with one glass hot water, insist on a water bath for half an hour in a sealed container, then strain, bring the liquid to its original volume and drink 0.5 cup three times a day before meals.

Recipe number 2: 50 g of dry fruits must be poured with a liter of boiling water and boiled over low heat for half an hour. It is recommended to drink the remedy at 3 times a day for 1/2 cup along with mashed fruits.

Fig leaf infusion: 3 tablespoons of dry leaves (collected before flowering) should be crushed, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 4-5 hours in a thermos. Take an infusion four times a day, 1/2 cup for bronchial asthma, kidney and urinary tract diseases.

Recipe for laxative balls: 100 g of figs, 100 g of raisins, 0.5 teaspoon of ground ginger and 0.5 teaspoon of nutmeg chop and mix. We form a sausage from the resulting mixture and then cut it with a knife into circles 1 cm thick. Roll balls out of them and eat 1-2 balls in the morning on an empty stomach with constipation.

Fig syrup: to prepare it, you need to pour 8 pieces of crushed fruits into 250 ml of water, boil for 20 minutes, then remove the figs, add 1 cup of sugar and add water to the original volume. Next, boil the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved, add the juice of half a lemon, 1 teaspoon of ginger and pour the liquid into a vessel. Adults need to drink 3-4 dessert spoons, children - 1-2 dessert spoons per day for problems with the digestive tract and.

Fig salad: mix 300 g of figs, 150 g of prunes, 2.5 tablespoons of almonds, 1 cup of acidophilus, orange zest, sugar to taste. Morning salad will help the cardiovascular system.

Figs for weight loss

Vitamins, beta-carotene, minerals, amino acids, pectin, fig enzymes have a beneficial effect on the digestion process. The concentration of nutrients in figs is in the right ratio, which allows them to be well absorbed by the body. Figs have more potassium than bananas, it contributes to the normal functioning of the stomach, muscle elasticity, and removes excess fluid from the body. Figs are rich in substances that help reduce hunger.

Fruit grains are fiber that relieves constipation. All these wonderful properties make figs an indispensable product for weight loss. There are many ways to replace sugar, which is so harmful for overweight people. Using figs with natural sugars, the presence of which is indicated by white coating on dried fruits (glucose crystals), it is recommended to replace one of the meals with two or three fruits several times a week.

In this case, no more food should be consumed. Many fruits cannot be eaten, otherwise the result will be the opposite. The fruit helps to restore strength, fills with energy. With the help of figs, the effect that is bad on the body during weight loss is noticeably reduced.

fig fruit

Depending on the variety, figs can have both yellow and black-and-blue color. But most often you can see yellow-green pear-shaped fruits the size of Walnut. The immature fruits contain milky juice, the taste is very sharp. Ripe fruits are full of small seeds, have a taste from sugary sweet to moderately sweet, as they contain fructose and glucose, malic and citric acids. The usefulness of fruits is determined by the presence of salts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, vitamins A, B and C.

Carotenoids, pectins, enzymes, minerals, proteins and fats are stored in dried fruits, and their concentration in this type of fruit increases. Before use, the peel of the dried fruit is best removed or soaked in water, because it is highly rigid. The water in which the figs were soaked has medicinal properties, since minerals and fruit sugar pass into it, so it can be drunk.

Fig varieties

There are many varieties of figs. Dried fruits include:

gray early Brunswick (chapla) Dalmatian Crimean black Violet Sochi - 4 Brunswick Magnolia July

The variety allows you to choose the best of the best varieties, all of them have excellent characteristics, bear fruit well and do not require special care.

Nikitsky fragrant variety, used for making dried fruits, jams, and for fresh consumption.

Brunswick fig variety has very large fruits, differs in skin color, it can be bluish-purple or dark brown. The pulp is juicy, white or pink in color.

Magnolia also has large fruits, their skin is amber, the variety is used for canning.

In Corderia, the fruits are pear-shaped, large with a yellowish-greenish tinge. The flesh is amber in color, juicy and very sweet. This variety of figs is common in dry areas.

San Pedro white - capable of producing two crops: one gives fruits with a shiny, yellow skin like a lemon, from the second harvest you can harvest fruits that are greenish with a hint of sea water, with red pulp, similar to strawberries, juicy, incredibly tasty and fragrant.

San Pedro black also gives two harvests: one, with large fruits, is used for fresh consumption, the second, with small fruits, is used for drying.

Smirnensky variety has medium-sized pear-shaped fruits. The skin is brownish-purple, sometimes greenish, the flesh is brownish-pink.

Figs during pregnancy For every woman, it is important to eat right during pregnancy, replenish the body with vitamins and other useful elements that positively affect the development of the fetus. Figs are one of the most essential ingredients in the diet of expectant mothers. Vitamin C, folic acid, proteins, potassium, calcium, iron, women will receive in sufficient volume by consuming at least 2-3 fig fruits daily. In order not to gain weight, lovers of sweets can use figs as a sweet substitute. Figs satisfy hunger, natural sugar is not harmful to mother and child. A doctor's consultation, of course, in this matter will not be superfluous, since pregnant women with a diagnosis of "gestational" figs can be harmful.

fig leaves

Many today eat the fruits of this tree, but knowing the power of the leaves, they can be used to treat many ailments. Fig leaves are also edible, they help with diabetes, and are effective in lowering levels. Fig leaves are a popular natural remedy for stomach ulcers. A decoction of dry fig leaves is drunk for dysentery, colitis.

Fig leaf infusion: 1 tablespoon of dry crushed leaves should be poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 1 hour and taken 1/3 or 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day. You can make an infusion of fruit in milk.

Fresh fig leaves are used for rapid maturation boils. Decoctions of leaves treat cough, bronchial asthma, kidneys.

Black fig

Black figs are incredibly useful, it healing properties recognized by official medicine. Eating one fruit daily for a month can reduce the likelihood of sclerotic plaques and blood clots. Useful substances of figs affect the functioning of the brain, capillaries. Essential oils enrich the blood with oxygen, the fruit is recommended for mental workers, creative individuals. Black figs are good to use in inflammatory processes in the larynx, kidneys, and urolithiasis.

This fruit also helps with bronchitis. Due to the presence of salts of potassium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, it is excellent for complex therapy for cardiovascular disorders, anemia. This is one of the most excellent folk remedies that must be included in the diet of the elderly, a real elixir of youth that will fill you with energy and give you strength. Black figs contain ficin, which can cleanse blood vessels, giving them strength and elasticity.

Recipe number 1: thoroughly mash 4-5 pieces of figs in a glass of warm milk. Take the remedy for 0.5 cup 2-4 times a day for bronchitis, tracheitis.

Recipe number 2: you need to boil on low heat in 1 glass of water 3-5 pieces of figs for 5 minutes, then knead and grind. Take a decoction during the day before meals, divided into equal portions. The tool promotes the crushing of stones and removes them from the kidneys and bladder.

Black figs combined with almonds are an excellent remedy for weight gain with severe weight loss and loss of appetite.

Contraindications to the use of figs

Figs are contraindicated in pancreatitis, diabetes, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The ban on the use of figs applies to diseases such as enteritis, obesity. Since oxalic acid is present in figs, this fruit is also contraindicated for people prone to the formation of gallstones.

Expert editor: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna| Dietitian, endocrinologist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University N. I. Pirogov, specialty "Medicine" (2004). Residency at the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).

Not many people know that figs belong to the category of flowers, and not fruits or berries, as everyone used to believe. An ancient cultivated plant is called a fig or fig. Figs are consumed in various forms including fresh, dried, cured. On its basis, no less healthy jam is prepared, as well as decoctions and infusions. For these and other reasons, people are interested in information that affects the beneficial and harmful qualities of fruits. Let's talk about them in order.

Composition, application and properties of figs

The value of figs is great, but the benefits must be considered in terms of the elements that are in the composition.

1. There is a lot of protein, beta-carotene, retinol, vitamin PP, ascorbic acid, B vitamins, and minerals in the inflorescences. Of the latter, copper, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium and others take pride of place.
2. Figs are not deprived of coumarin, organic type acids, carbohydrates (presented in the form of easily digestible glucose and fructose). The fig is in second place after the nuts in terms of the accumulation of potassium in the composition. This mineral compound is necessary for the heart muscle and the entire circulatory system.
3. Figs are used by folk healers for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in vitiligo, asthma, anemia (iron deficiency anemia), cough, fever, tachycardia. They are also treated with neoplasms in the cavity of the kidneys, an increased volume of the liver.
4. Diuretic properties encourage people to eat figs from swelling and accumulation of fluid in the tissues. Laxative effect helps with constipation and stool disorder. Fig leaves are used in the form of lotions for the treatment of large abrasions, wounds, skin lesions.
5. Incoming mineral compounds support blood pressure and reduce its jumps, tone the heartbeat, and eliminate signs of arrhythmia. All this is made possible by the inclusion of potassium and magnesium.
6. Interestingly, figs have 2.5 times more iron than apples. Therefore, figs are used for suspected anemia and for the treatment of an existing disease.
7. The product contains nicotinic acid, it is considered an excellent tool for thinning the blood and improving its circulation. Due to this, the risk of blood clots is reduced, blood channels are cleared of cholesterol, stroke, heart attack, thrombophlebitis and other pathologies are prevented.
8. Figs are extremely high in fiber and other dietary fiber. They are necessary for the activity of the digestive system, kidneys, liver. The systematic intake of figs leads to the fact that the body is comprehensively cleansed of slagging, toxic substances, poisons of a different nature. Fig is necessary for the treatment and prevention of constipation.
9. Vitamin E, also called tocopherol, has antioxidant properties. This substance prevents the negative effects of free radicals on healthy cells, resulting in the prevention and treatment of oncology.
10. During colds, figs are also necessary. A decoction based on it and a fresh plant helps to get rid of mucus in the respiratory tract, helps to reduce temperature, and accelerates sweating. Glucose and fructose, which are found in figs, help to recover faster after surgery or a protracted illness.
11. Fruits accumulate ascorbic acid in a decent amount. Vitamin C is necessary for the general strengthening of the immune system, it reinforces the action of tocopherol and retinol. Teas, decoctions, infusions are prepared from figs, which help to effectively cope with sore throats and flu.
12. It contains a lot of calcium and phosphorus, in combination these mineral compounds are necessary for compaction of bone tissue, teeth, nail plates, hair follicles. The accumulation of laxatives leads to a complex cleansing of the kidneys from small neoplasms.

1. Dried figs contain many substances that are also found in fresh figs. But the volume of some incoming elements after heat treatment increases significantly. This list includes natural saccharides that the brain needs to function properly.
2. In addition, dried fig has a laxative effect, thanks to which even the most complex stagnation, toxic substances, salts of heavy metals leave the body. This type of fig improves digestion much better than fresh.
3. Compotes, infusions, teas are prepared on the basis of fruits. Such drinks are consumed during a seasonal epidemic of influenza, SARS, tonsillitis to increase immunity. Also, a decoction on dried figs relieves heat, removes sputum from the cavity of the respiratory system.
4. After heat treatment, the accumulation of iron increases significantly, which makes the figs even healthier. It prevents iron deficiency anemia improves blood composition and circulation.
5. It is used as an additional remedy for tachycardia, bronchial asthma, female gynecological diseases, urolithiasis (with formations up to 5 mm in size.).
6. There are many more B vitamins in the dried fig, they are necessary for the human nervous system, as they control the psycho-emotional environment. Decoctions of dried or dried figs help with insomnia, cheer up, stimulate brain neurons.
7. Figs in any form, whether fresh or dried, are considered a panacea for many male diseases. So, the fetus prevents inflammatory processes prostate, prostatitis, impotence.

The benefits of figs for women

1. For many years, the female half of the population has been happy to use figs to maintain health and beauty in particular. The composition contains antioxidants that prolong the youth of tissues. This is made possible by the removal of toxins and toxins.
2. The composition contains calcium, which strengthens the nail plate, hair, skin. Fig extract is added to all kinds of caring cosmetics (bath foams, salts, creams and body lotions, tonics, etc.) and perfume.
3. For skin diseases, the pulp of a fresh fruit can be used to wipe rashes, acne, lichen, eczema, psoriasis. Lotions from puree-like fig mass are also effective.
4. Girls during menstruation often suffer from a decline in hemoglobin, because most of the iron is washed out with the blood. Fig restores the deficiency of this element, eliminates apathy and emotional outbursts.

1. Almost everyone knows that taking medication during pregnancy is not the best practice. Therefore, it is recommended to start eating figs before the off-season. The unique composition saturates the body with beneficial enzymes and strengthens it.
2. Smokva easily fights beriberi, anemia and colds. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to resort to the help of harmful drugs. The fruit does not reflect negatively on the child. Experts advise including raw materials in the daily diet.
3. Many representatives of the weaker sex during gestation suffer from common problems. The most common symptoms are indigestion and constipation. To cope with troubles, it is recommended to eat only 3 fruits a day. Digestion processes will be fully restored.

Figs and milk for cough

1. In folk medicine, fig is often used to eliminate coughs. various types. Figs perfectly remove mucus from the bronchi, relieve inflammation in the throat, and fight high body temperature. For greater effectiveness, raw materials are best taken with milk.
2. For 250 ml. liquid, 3 dried fruits are taken. Boil the components after boiling for 3 minutes. Remove the container from the fire and wait for it to cool to an acceptable temperature. You can add a small amount of honey to taste. Take this remedy 3 times a day until recovery.

1. Earlier, we considered the colossal benefits of fruit for people. Unfortunately, few people know that the fig helps well in dietetics. Due to the valuable composition of the fruits, you can fully snack. The body will not feel hungry for a long time.
2. It is allowed to replace one or two meals a day with fresh figs. As a result of such a diet, you can throw off a significant amount of unwanted kilograms. In addition, the body will not experience a feeling of discomfort.
3. Among other things, a person receives tangible benefits in the form of saturation with valuable enzymes. Figs perfectly cleanse tissues from slagging, toxic substances and high cholesterol. The result is a mild and noticeable weight loss.

Fig contraindications

1. Smokva has a number of positive qualities. If you decide to improve your health, you should consider some contraindications. Otherwise, the general condition of a person may worsen. Fruits are contraindicated in pancreatitis, gastritis, diabetes and gout.
2. You should not eat figs with a tendency to obesity. You can also consult with a nutritionist and set an individual daily allowance. You should not lean on raw materials before an important event. Fig has a good laxative effect.

1. Once you decide to purchase fresh fruits, you should carefully approach the process. In no case do not choose damaged specimens, in addition to the lack of benefit, you may encounter a number of additional health problems.
2. Fig belongs to perishable products, so in the hot season it is not stored for a long time. With dried figs, things are different. If you yourself did not prepare the fruits before drying, then there is a risk that the fig was spoiled.
3. As for fresh figs, you should choose fruits that have a pleasant aroma. To the touch, the shell should be elastic and not have any damage. The fermented sour smell, increased softness of the fruit and sticky peel testify to the staleness of the fruit.
4. Often, suppliers collect fruits that are still unripe, such a simple move allows you to extend the shelf life of figs. As a rule, a fig in this form does not have a characteristic smell. The fruits look green with a hard shell. Keep in mind that unripe figs do not yet have all the useful qualities.
5. You should not always pay attention to the color, depending on the variety, the shell may have a different shade. Therefore, one should not think that the fruits are not ripe, relying solely on appearance. Figs of various varieties can have a yellow, dark blue and purple hue. It is the latter that is most often found on the market.

Rules for storing figs

1. You should not buy a large number of figs at a time to eat fresh. Otherwise, figs will spoil in just a few days, even in the refrigerator. Eat treats right after you get home.
2. If you can’t wait at all, then you can afford to eat a few fruits right on the market. Keep in mind, in extreme cases, you need to eat figs after purchase within 3 days. Also, it will not be superfluous to wrap each fruit in a dry napkin. A little trick will keep the fruit fresh longer. The paper will absorb excess moisture.
3. It is allowed to store fresh figs in a dry jar. It is also necessary to remove all moisture from the fruits in advance. Do not try to cover the container with a lid. The fruits must be ventilated. After that, send the figs to the refrigerator for storage. Make sure that there are no foreign odors in the chamber. The fig absorbs aromas well.

The fig has unique healing properties. The rich composition helps to avoid the formation of a number of ailments. With the help of raw materials, you can well strengthen the immune system and bypass vitamin deficiency. In addition, figs effectively cope with colds. If you suspect that there are contraindications in the form of chronic diseases, be examined before eating the product.

Video: the benefits and harms of figs for the body

Figs grow in warm and dry climates around the world. It is eaten fresh or dried.

Sweet fruits contain a lot of sugar. In the Mediterranean countries, figs are so popular that they call them "poor people's food".

Figs have been used to treat diseases for thousands of years. It contains many vitamins and minerals.

The composition and calorie content of figs

Figs are rich in fiber, which is good for digestion and preventing thrombosis.

Composition 100 gr. figs as a percentage of the daily value:

Calorie content of figs - 74 kcal per 100 gr.

For many centuries, figs and extracts from them have been used to combat constipation, bronchitis, disorders, wounds and warts.

For muscles

Figs contain magnesium, which is important during physical exertion. It is involved in energy production muscle contractions. During intense exercise, magnesium requirements increase by 10-20%.

For the heart and blood vessels

Figs relieve stress on the walls of the veins.

Thanks to magnesium and potassium, figs help keep blood pressure normal. The element removes sodium from the body through urine.

For nerves

Beneficial features figs protect nerve cells from destruction and age-related death.

Magnesium in figs prevents migraines, helps fight depression, insomnia and improves mood.

For the gastrointestinal tract

Doctors advise adding figs to the diet of people suffering from chronic constipation.

For the pancreas

The leaves of fig trees are valuable for health due to their antioxidant properties. Taking fig leaf extract lowers blood sugar levels.

Figs increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

For the reproductive system

Figs are good for women because they contain magnesium and vitamin B6. They reduce the manifestation of premenstrual syndrome, which occurs 1-2 weeks before menstruation. This manifests as mood swings, weight gain, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, chest pain, and digestive problems.

For skin

Fig leaves prevent the development of skin cancer. Creams with fig extract reduce wrinkles on the face, thanks to antioxidants. They can be used for hyperpigmentation, acne and freckles.

For immunity

Figs contain antioxidants that prevent aging and cancer. The fruit relieves inflammation in all organs.

Useful properties of dried figs

Dried figs contain 19% of the daily value of potassium, which regulates blood pressure. With regular use of dried fruit, you will protect yourself from the development of hypertension.

The fruit contains a lot of fiber, which protects against overeating. If you want to lose weight, replace sweets in your diet with dried figs.

Dried figs are rich in iron. Women aged 19 to 50 should receive 18 mg. iron per day, and over 51 years old - 8 mg. A glass of dried figs contains 3 mg. gland. If the body lacks an element, you become vulnerable to infections and constantly feel weak.

Harm and contraindications of figs

Contraindications to the use of figs:

How to choose figs

Figs are sold in grocery stores and markets, they are supplied all year round. It is advisable to eat the fruit from mid-June to mid-October - so the benefits from it will be maximum. Choose figs with a rich color.

How to store figs

Fresh figs are best eaten immediately after picking from the tree. In the refrigerator, its shelf life will increase by a couple of days. After purchasing a fig, take it out of the package immediately.

Jams and marmalades are boiled from figs or dried. You can freeze figs up to 12 hours after harvest to extend their freshness.

Drying fruit is the easiest way to preserve fig fruits. traditional method drying in the sun gives products with different quality. Drying the fruit in special "dryers" ensures healthy dried figs. In most commercial growing areas, figs are harvested as they fall and placed on trays to dry.

Figs are full of beneficial compounds, so they can be used as a healthy alternative to sweets.