Figs are a deliciously sweet fruit with a unique texture - providing a soft chewiness as well as a slight crunch from the small seeds inside. They provide a great source of fibre along with an impressive array of vitamins and minerals, making them a fantastic dietary choice. Make the most of seasonal eating and dive in today.
Weight control
Fresh figs are naturally low in energy (calories/kilojoules) and nutrient dense meaning they provide a whole lot of nutrition without adding much energy to your diet. This makes figs a great snack for people who are watching their weight. Snacking on one or two figs provides you with a good hit of fibre, again important if you are watching your weight as fibre helps you feel fuller for longer, meaning you are less likely to overeat.
Heart health and improved blood pressure
Figs contain potassium, a nutrient involved in the movement of muscles and nerves. Potassium also assists in keeping the fluids in our bodies balanced and in doing so helps to control blood pressure. Figs are also a source of Vitamin K, a nutrient that plays a part in allowing our blood to clot when necessary (e.g. you cut yourself) and preventing our blood from clotting, depending on what is needed by our bodies at the time. Vitamin K also plays a role in bone formation and health.
Diabetes prevention and management
Due to their high fibre content, figs are often promoted to help with blood glucose control in people living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Although figs do contain natural sugars, the high fibre content means these sugars are slowly digested and absorbed, releasing sustained energy over time.
Regular bowels
Prunes aren’t the only fruit that help in keeping our bowel movements regular. Consuming just two figs provides a little over 3g of fibre, which helps promote healthy, regular bowel function and prevents constipation. It does this by adding bulk to your stools, enabling it to move along your digestive tract easily. Remember that it is possible to have too much of a good thing, and if you over consume figs it may cause you experience diarrhoea and/or feel nauseated.
Fun fact about figs
There are more than 1,000 fig species found in every major rainforest, tropical continent, and island around the world.
Ways to enjoy figs:
- Sweeten up natural yoghurt with a sliced fig
- Add to fresh summer salads
- Topped with goats cheese as a snack
