Pictured recipe:Fig & Ricotta Toast
You’ll find figs in many forms. You can purchase them fresh, of course, but their harvest season is very short. In the U.S., fresh figs may be available as early as May and into the fall. But they’re a delicate, highly perishable fruit, so they don’t travel as well as other produce. This is why you see them processed into other forms. Dried figs are easy to find and typically don’t contain any added sugar. Fig paste is also common, especially in bars and cookies. You can buy fig jams and jellies (or make your own) and you can also find them frozen.
Whichever form you find figs in, they are quite healthy and delicious.
Fresh and Dried Fig Nutrition
Here’s what you’ll get when you eat1 fresh fig:
Here’s what you’ll get when you eat1 dried fig:
The Health Benefits of Figs
Pictured recipe:Honey, Balsamic & Rosemary Roasted Figs
Research has shown that people whoregularly eat dried fruit (about 1/8 cup a day), such as dried figs, are more likely to weigh less, have lower BMIs and generally eat healthier. There are also some specific health boons when you eat figs. Read on!
Brimming with antioxidants
Figs, especially dried ones, arerich in antioxidantsthanks to their high polyphenol content. Research shows figs' polyphenol content is higher than both red wine and green tea. Remember, antioxidants are beneficial to your health because they mop up harmful free radicals. See ourfull list of best antioxidant-rich foods.
Good for your bones
Figs contain calcium and magnesium—two minerals that play a role in keeping your bones healthy and strong. In fact, ½ cup dried figs delivers almost as much calcium as ½ cup milk. But also, they contain a compound called strontium, which research shows contributes to bone health. In fact, apatented form of strontium is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. (Get your fill of thesevitaminD-rich foodsthat help keep your bones healthy too.)
How to Eat and Enjoy Figs
Figs are incredibly versatile! You can eat fresh ones straight up, chopped and mixed into a salad, quartered on top of a pizza, wrapped in prosciutto, split open and stuffed with cheese, or even dipped in chocolate like strawberries. You can also eat dried figs as is, but they’re particularly delicious when they’re chopped and cooked into baked goods (think: muffins, bars, cakes) and they also make a sweet addition to stews.
Bottom Line
Figs aren’t only delicious and easy to find year-round, but they’re also a great way to get fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium, all of which are nutrients that many of us don’t get enough of regularly.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
