Behind the sweet taste and unique appearance and texture, there are many benefits of figs that we can get. Various nutritional content in it makes figs very good for consumption to maintain a healthy body.
Figs or also known as figs (Ficus carica) is a fruit that is quite unique. This fruit resembles a green or purple teardrop, and contains a pink flesh with hundreds of tiny seeds that make it crunchy.
The benefits of figs for health do not need to be doubted. The sweet taste coupled with the abundant nutritional content makes figs suitable to be included in your healthy diet menu choices. This fruit can be enjoyed directly, dried first, or taken extract.
Various Benefits of Tin Fruit
The sweet taste of figs comes from the natural sugar content whose levels will increase when the fruit is dried. Even so, figs are still low in calories. One fresh fig (± 40 grams) contains less than 50 calories.
In addition, this fruit also contains fiber, vitamin B6, copper, and antioxidants. Thanks to these nutritional content, figs provide a variety of benefits for the body. The following are the benefits of figs that are a pity to miss:
1. Improve digestive health
Figs have long been proven to be used to treat digestive problems, such as constipation. The benefits of this fig fruit are obtained from the fiber content in it which functions as a prebiotic.
This fiber will support the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract and improve the health of the digestive system.
2. Overcoming symptoms irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the digestive system that is chronic. The symptoms of IBS can come and go and can be very annoying for the sufferer. Symptoms can also vary and alternate, ranging from constipation, diarrhea, bloating, to stomach cramps.
The benefits of figs in overcoming IBS symptoms have been proven in a number of studies. IBS sufferers who regularly consume figs 2 times a day feel the symptoms that usually occur to them are greatly reduced.
3. Prevent chronic disease
Despite being high in sugar, figs offer many natural antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. This antioxidant content is most commonly found in the skin of figs, especially the dark purple ones.
Antioxidants are believed to have great benefits in preventing various chronic diseases, including diabetes, cataracts, heart disease. However, further research is needed to explore the relationship between the use of figs and the prevention of these diseases.
4. Prevent the occurrence of cancer
In addition to preventing chronic diseases, the antioxidants in figs can also counteract the negative effects of excessive free radicals in the body. One of them is the development of cancer.
A study also showed that fig extract has anticancer activity that can work on breast cancer cells. However, further research and clinical trials are needed before this potential can actually be developed into a drug.
5. Improve skin health
The antioxidants in fig extract are considered good for maintaining healthy skin cells, reducing collagen damage, and repairing wrinkles on the skin. However, this research is still limited to animals and more research is needed to prove the effects of figs on skin health.
That's a series of benefits of figs that we can get. Thanks to its sweet taste, figs are usually used as a healthy natural sugar substitute. In addition, fresh or dried figs can also be used as various interesting dishes, such as smoothies, juice, or as a healthy dessert.
However, be careful. Although very rare, figs can also cause allergy symptoms. If you have an allergy to jackfruit, you may also experience the same allergic reaction to figs.
If portion controlled, eating figs is a good way to add fiber and nutrients to your diet. If you are still in doubt, you can consult a doctor so that you can get the maximum benefits of figs.