Sugar causes a lot of damage to the body, that’s why nutritionists all over the world strongly recommend to refuse it or at least limit it. In order not to deprive themselves of pleasure at all, adepts of HLS look for various alternatives to sugar. One of the most popular is figs. This fruit is not only very sweet, but also rich with a lot of nutrients. Why figs are the best alternative to your favorite sweets, we tell in our material.
The beauty of figs
Figs are a real treasure trove of copper, which is necessary for the proper functioning of many processes in the body. It is necessary for the normalization of metabolism, the formation of new red blood cells – red blood cells, the production of neurotransmitters and connective tissue.
Moreover, the sweet fruit is extraordinarily rich in vitamin B6 – it helps the body to break proteins into amino acids, to obtain energy from them, plays an important role in the health of the nervous system (especially cognitive function) and can slow down the aging process (how – we told here). Antioxidants such as figs, which are rich in antioxidants that protect cells from free-radical damage and help prevent wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, can also help keep you looking younger.
Regular consumption of figs can be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Multiple studies have found a link between eating figs and lowering LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. The fruit is rich in vitamin K, which strengthens blood vessel walls, prevents calcification and provides blood clot prevention.
As the sweet fruit is unusually rich in fibre, it plays an important role in gastrointestinal health. It improves intestinal peristalsis, stimulates digestion and can provide prevention of some digestive system diseases.
Figs are unusually rich in various vitamins and trace elements, the concentration of which increases significantly if the fruit is dried. However, in this case, the sugar concentration and caloric value of the fruit will increase by almost 5 times, so experts recommend to stop with the fresh fruit.
Possible harm
There are no unambiguously harmful properties of figs, but you should be careful with them for a number of reasons. First of all, the fruit (especially in its dried form) contains a considerable amount of sugar, which can provoke a sharp spike in blood glucose, and in the future – increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, fig leaves, from which tea is brewed, on the contrary, have been shown to be excellent for controlling blood sugar.
Also, figs, like almost any foodstuff, can cause severe allergic reactions, due to the abundance of sugar and fruit acids in their composition. If you have never eaten them before, and now you decide to try them, limit yourself to a small amount and see how your body reacts.
