Figs are considered the fruit of paradise – they are not only wonderfully sweet, but also healthy. Here you can find out why it is best to eat the fruit with the skin on and what you should consider when shopping.
The fig is considered a sacred fruit in many cultures. It originally comes from Asia Minor and has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for centuries. Figs are not real fruits, but pseudo-fruits – the flowers grow inward and form the pulp of the fig.
Eating figs is healthy
Figs taste sweet and nutty – they promote digestion and are low in calories. Fresh figs contain only about 63 kilocalories per 100 grams. The fruits also provide many healthy nutrients:
Fresh figs contain many important B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9). Among other things, they regulate the metabolism and brighten the mood.
Potassium lowers blood pressure and supports heart activity.
Vitamin E strengthens your immune system.
Vitamin K and calcium are good for bone structure. If you avoid dairy products, figs are a valuable vegetable source of calcium.
Iron helps your body make blood.
The alkaline fruit stabilizes the acid balance in the intestine and provides it with plenty of fiber. Eating figs gets your gut moving and aids digestion. Figs are therefore a natural, gentle laxative that you can use for mild constipation.
Eat figs: preferably with the skin on
It is best to eat fresh figs whole – including the skin. In this way you also absorb the vitamins that are located directly under the shell. Simply wash the fig gently and twist off the stalk. Now you can eat the rest of the fruit.
If you buy organic figs, you can be sure that you are not eating any chemical pesticide residues.
Eating figs: the right choice
Most figs come from the Mediterranean region. There they grow in harmony with the Mediterranean climate and are therefore ecologically compatible crops. It is best to buy figs from these regions – they have to travel less than fruit from Asia or America and are therefore more climate-friendly.
In the Mediterranean region, the sweet fruits are harvested between July and October. In winter and spring, figs are imported from America or Australia.
Part of the fig harvest is dried and is therefore available all year round. Dried figs contain a particularly large number of nutrients – but also more fructose than fresh ones. They are a healthy snack between meals, a delicious addition to muesli and a good alternative when the figs are not in season.
Tips for buying figs
Figs come in many varieties – green, yellow or purple, with light or red flesh. To test the degree of ripeness, you can press the skin lightly – if it gives way softly, the fig is ripe and particularly tasty.
Don’t buy mushy figs. The ripe fruits are sensitive: they do not tolerate pressure and keep for about a day at room temperature and up to two days in the refrigerator. Unripe figs, on the other hand, only ripen on the tree, at home they age and spoil over time, but do not ripen. They can only be eaten cooked because of the milky juice that escapes. Therefore, make sure to buy ripe figs and eat them promptly.
