11 Health Benefits of Figs You Didn’t Know

A Little Bit of History and the Health Benefits of Figs

Figs come from one of the world’s oldest trees, and before we had access to refined sugars, they were a common sweetener, especially in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, where they originate. In fact, the export of figs used to be outlawed by the Greeks because they were considered such a prized possession.

The long and favorable history of figs is attributed, in part, to the many health benefits that they possess. They’re more than a great sweet treat—they possess tons of benefits you might not even realize. Rich in nutrients and fiber that we need to survive, figs are also relatively low in calories and can replace the artificial sweeteners in your diet with healthy sugars.

Here are 11 more health benefits to figs that you might not know.

1. Figs Can Lower Blood Pressure

Most people eat too much sodium—in part because our diets are high in processed foods. Figs can help counteract the negative effects of high sodium intake, such as low potassium levels and high blood sugar.

2. This Sweet Fruit Can Help You Manage Blood Sugar

Although figs have a relatively high sugar content, they also contain nutrients that help lower blood sugar levels. Small studies have explored fig-leaf preparations and blood sugar, and fig beverages score a lower glycemic index than comparable drinks without figs. The honest summary is simpler: figs are whole-food sweetness with fiber attached, which is a different thing for your blood sugar than refined sugar on its own.

It’s important to recognize that dried figs—like any dried fruit—contain concentrated amounts of sugar, and they can negatively impact your blood sugar if over-consumed.

3. Figs Can Relieve Constipation

Although figs are high in fiber (which can cause constipation if you have too much without enough water), they also act as a natural laxative to help relieve discomfort when going to the bathroom.

4. They Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight

Because figs are high in fiber, they help you feel fuller after eating compared to a similar food with the same nutrients and sugars and without the fiber. As a result, they can help you to avoid hunger, cravings, and overeating.

5. Figs Promote Digestive Wellness

It’s extremely common for people to take probiotic supplements to aid in digestion—but naturally occurring prebiotics can do a lot more for your gut health than manufactured probiotics. Figs contain prebiotics, which support the healthy gut bacteria you need for digestive wellness.

6. Figs Support Healthy Bones

You might expect the benefits of figs to end there, but we’re not even close! Figs also support healthy bone density with their high levels of calcium. In addition, their high potassium levels help counteract the loss of calcium in urine caused by high sodium diets. Instead of reaching for a glass of milk, consider snacking on products that incorporate figs.

7. Figs Support Heart Health

People with low levels of B6 in their blood are almost twice as much at risk for developing heart disease. When you eat foods with B6, like figs, your body is better able to manage your cholesterol and avoid clogged arteries.

Figs may be able to help lower your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol, and promote overall heart health.

8. Figs Promote Brain Health

Figs are especially high in vitamin B6—an essential nutrient involved in breaking down and forming proteins that aids in overall brain health. Since your body needs B6 and cannot produce it on its own, you get all your B6 from your diet.

If you don’t consume enough vitamin B6, you could be at risk for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Getting enough B6 from real food is the reliable way to cover that base.

9. Figs Are a Natural Food Source of B6

Vitamin B6 is one of the better-studied nutrients in the field — under medical guidance it is even used for nausea in pregnancy — and figs are a natural food source of it. That is a reason to keep B6-rich whole foods in the rotation, not a claim that a fig is medicine.

10. They Promote Eye Health

Figs can also help promote eye health. Adequate levels of vitamin B6 are associated with preventing eye diseases that cause vision loss.

11. A Nutrient Researchers Keep Studying

Early research has explored B6 in connection with joint comfort as well. The honest label for that work is “promising, unfinished” — which is exactly how we will keep describing it until the research grows up.

How to Gain Health Benefits from Eating Figs

When you consume the essential nutrients that figs contain, you support your heart, brain, blood, eyes, bones, stomach, bowels, and more. Keep in mind that consuming the dried fruits, while more convenient, is always less beneficial than eating fresh figs or drinking fig beverages.

Figs can promote a healthy body and a healthy mind when consumed in moderation and with thoughtfulness. Whenever you make changes to your diet, consult your physician and track any changes to your overall health. (And if you'd like your figs dark, roasted, and in a mug — that is literally what Coffig is.)

Be mindful when adding figs to your diet, as their high sugar content may not be right for everyone.

Sources:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-figs#:~:text=Figs%20are%20high%20in%20natural,contribute%20to%20health%20and%20wellness.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/figs-benefits

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-b6-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10