01/07/2021
Fig or Anjeer as it is known in India is a small pear or bell-shaped flowering plant that belongs to the mulberry family and scientifically termed as Ficus carcia. The fruit is a native of the Middle East, Asia, Turkey and also widely cultivated commercially in the USA and Spain. In India fig is commercially grown in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Coimbatore.
Figs are extremely sweet fruits with several crunchy seeds. These can be consumed fresh or dried and in fact, dried ones are available all through the year. As the fruit is dense in natural sugars it is known as nature’s candy. It is available in various colours ranging from purple, red, green and golden.
As per the study published in the American Journal Of Nutrition dried fig is highly valued for its umpteen amount of antioxidants, polyphenols, fibre and other vital nutrients which should be included as a healthy snack in your daily diet.
Fig is a deciduous tree – which means it loses its foliage during the fall and grows new leaves in the spring. The tree grows up to 50 ft tall, with a heavy and twisting branch. The leaves are bright green, single and large which has an uneven hairy upper surface and soft hairy on the underside. The flowers are small with a clustered green fruits and pollinating insects enters the flowers via an opening at the top of the fruit and most fig the flowers are all female and needs no pollination.
Anjeer is extremely sweet, soft, succulent, juicy and fleshy and paste of the fruit is used as a substitute for sugar as it is a healthier option than corn syrup or sucrose. It is made into delectable jams and halwas as well as added into pies, pudding, cakes, baked goods and also made as a yummy fig roll cookie which is very popular baked produce. Also Read: How, When And Why To Eat Fruits
Fig Nutrition Profile
Figs are low on calories. Around 100 grams of fresh figs provide just 74 calories and immensely rich in soluble dietary fibre, essential nutrients and a host of plant compounds that contribute to healing health benefits. Figs are a powerhouse of antioxidant flavonoids which include carotenes, lutein, tannins, chlorogenic acids and vitamins A, E and K which assists in scavenging free radicals and prevents a host of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and reduces inflammation.
Moreover, fresh figs are heaped with B complex vitamins like niacin, pyridoxine, folates, and pantothenic acid which acts as co-factors for metabolism. Also
