A delicious whole, unskinned, dried fig. They are fruity and sweet, so healthy and make great additions to salads or trail mixes. The perfect snack for on-the-go!

Not your typical fruit, figs are technically a collection of inverted flowers that, if left alone, would bloom from the inside out.

Before sugar became popular, figs were commonly used to sweeten desserts — you’ve probably heard of “figgy pudding.” Today, as people begin to turn away from refined sugars, many are turning back to figs to provide a healthier alternative.

Figs are naturally high in calcium and are a perfect substitute for those who cannot tolerate dairy. They also contain antioxidants and are high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats which help prevent coronary heart attacks.

They also contain high levels of iron and can help combat anaemia.

Figs also help regulate and lower blood pressure and when mixed with olive oil, can help resolve all manner of stomach troubles. It is also proven to cleanse the kidneys and bladder of stones.

Figs can also be consumed as an infusion (40g of dried fruit per litre of water) to help cure respiratory infections, throat infections and coughs.

Figs are a cure for piles and useful for rheumatism.

Nutritional Profile

One major benefit of figs is that they are a naturally fat-free, cholesterol-free food. They are also an excellent source of:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Nutrients per Serving

One medium (2 ¼ inch) fig contains:

• Calories: 37
• Fat: 0 grams
• Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
• Sodium: 1 milligram
• Carbohydrates: 10 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Sugar: 8 grams
• Protein: 0 grams

Portion Sizes

Although figs are healthy in moderation, it’s important to keep in mind that a serving size is one medium fig. The sugars in figs can add up quickly if you eat figs by the fistful, and many of the recipes you’ll see online call for large numbers of figs. Always be mindful of the amount of figs in the foods you eat and limit yourself to keep your overall sugar intake low.

How to Store and Prepare Figs

Dried figs should be wrapped so that they don't get hard and can then be stored at a cool room temperature or in the refrigerator. They should keep for several months.

Figs can easily be eaten fresh as a snack, or halved and tossed into a salad or sandwich for added crunch and flavor. However, there are also a number of tasty ways to bake using figs as a sweetener.

One option is to cut figs up small and mix them into dough the way you might mix in raisins. Prepared like this, figs go great in breads, cookies, and muffins.

Fig bars can be made by cooking chopped figs over medium heat until they are soft and moist. Then, they can be pressed into a pan with other ingredients.

Another option is to cut your figs lengthwise, season with honey and cinnamon, and roast them in the oven for 40 minutes to make a sweet dessert or delicious side dish.

The Fig and Olive Oil infusion from the Islamic medication guidelines helps treat fertility among a number of other ailments. The infusion is also available on our website.