Figs are an amazing fruit that resembles a teardrop. They are as big as your thumb and are full of hundreds of small seeds with an edible green or purple peel. The fruit has pink flesh with a mildly sweet taste. The fruit’s scientific name is Ficus carica.
Figs have various nutrients that offer several potential health benefits. For instance, they decrease the risk of heart disease, improve digestion, and help manage blood sugar levels. This article provides you with all the information you may need about the nutritional benefits of fig products and whether they’re good for your health and weight.
Nutrition
Figs are low in calories and rich in nutrients, making them a valued addition to your diet. Figs contain various nutrients like:
- Protein
- Calories
- Carbs
- Fat
- Copper
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Thiamine
- Riboflavin
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B6
While fresh figs contain minimal calories from natural sugar, dried figs are richer in calories since their sugars are more concentrated. Out of all nutrients listed above, the most common nutrients found in figs are Vitamin B6 and Copper.
Copper is critical for bodily functions like energy production and metabolism. In addition, it also helps in forming neurotransmitters, connective tissues, and blood cells. Additionally, Vitamin B6 helps break down dietary protein to create new proteins. It also helps boost brain health.
Now that you know all about figs, we’ll move along and learn more about products that have figs as an ingredient. They include fig bars, fig cookies, and fig newtons.
Are fig bars good for you?
Fig bars are fairly healthy. As mentioned earlier, figs have certain health benefits like helping with digestion because they have fibers and have various nutrients like minerals, vitamins, and proteins. Each fig bar serving contains one gram of protein and fiber.
That said, the energy bars have between 170 and 300 calories. Essentially, they are fat foods covered in healthy food clothing. Fig bars are healthier in comparison since all their ingredients have zero preservatives, colors, artificial flavors, or processed sugars.
Calories in a fig bar
| Calories | 99 | 413kJ |
| Total Carbohydrate | 20.1g | 7% |
| Sodium | 99mg | 4% |
| Sugars | 13.2g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.3g | 5% |
Eating fig bars introduces fiber into your diet, encouraging regular bowel movements. Dried figs were better at providing concentrated fiber doses. Research has shown that fig paste increases stool weight and reduces the time taken for food to pass through your intestines. This makes it one of your natural remedies for constipation.
Are fig bars good for weight loss?
Being overweight is better treated or prevented through dieting supplemented by exercising. Adding fig bars to your diet has been shown to help weight loss and even reduce the bulge in one’s abdominal area. However, some of us are wondering how do they do that exactly? And the answer is quite simple.
Figs contain fibers, something known to be beneficial for weight loss. For instance, consuming fiber-rich foods makes you feel full quicker and for longer than eating foods with minimum amounts of fiber. This is extremely advantageous for people looking to cut or control their weight.
Health benefits of fig newtons
Fig newton cookies are one of the various cookies, including blueberry, strawberry, and mixed berry. They are still quite popular despite the competition put on by other newtons. They are also a fairly healthy choice in comparison. They contain fiber and several nutrients that are beneficial to the human body.
According to Nabisco, two cookies of fig newtons, which are about 29 grams, have 0.72mg of iron, 20mg of calcium, and 95mg of potassium. It also contains a gram of protein and fiber. The only downside to eating fig newtons is its sugar content. However, you could avoid this by consuming a small amount at a time.
Each fig newtons serving contains 12g of sugar, which is high for only two cookies. The AHA, aka American Heart Association’s recommendation is for women to consume 24mg of sugar daily while men consume 32mg. How does this play into your diet?
Consuming two fig newton cookies covers half of a woman’s daily sugar needs and a man’s third. Therefore, they may be good for you if you don’t plan on consuming much sugar that day. However, if you plan to consume other sugary snacks, you are better off eating other less sugary cookies.
Are fig cookies good for you?
Fig cookies are good for you for several reasons, some of which are mentioned above. For instance, fig cookies have lots of fiber that help with digestion. Plus, they have many nutritious elements that are exactly what your body needs. However, you have to be careful about their sugar content, especially if you plan on giving some to your kids.
Some people have observed that the sugar present in fig cookies can make consumers gain weight. This is unsubstantiated since the figs in cookies only contain natural sugars. However, you should check the product’s ingredients to determine if some preservatives and processed sugars are added.
Are fig bars good for your health?
Fig bars are healthy as long as they don’t contain artificial flavors, processed sugars, colors, or preservatives. Additionally, the figs in the fig bars contain fiber, minerals like magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, and potassium, and vitamins K, A, and B6 that help in various bodily functions.
Apart from the possibly high amount of sugar present in the treat, fig bars are a healthy alternative to other snacks in your diet. For instance, you’re probably better off eating a carrot or an apple as a snack; however, there are times when you need a total energy boost that can only be availed by energy bars. This is where fig bars come in since they are better than most other snacks.
Conclusion
Figs and fig products are great alternatives for people looking to stay healthy, lose weight, and enjoy a tasty snack. They have many health benefits that are good for the consumer; however, you’ll have to watch out for any potential issues that could come about from eating too many figs or fig products.