FIG Benefits

-In the book of Genesis in the Bible, Adam and Eve clad themselves with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7) after eating the "forbidden fruit" from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The fig is a symbol of great joy, prosparity and peace. Fig leaves, or depictions of fig leaves, have long been used to cover the genitals of nude figures in painting and sculpture. Often these fig leaves were added by art collectors or exhibitors long after the original work was completed. The use of the fig leaf as a protector of modesty or shield of some kind has entered the language. The edible fig, ablessed fruit, is one of the first plants that were cultivated by humans. Figs taste best consumed "warm" from the tree. They are dried, but store figs in refrigerator after opening. While figs are available year-round, they also can be kept in the freezer for up to one year.
-Figs are one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fiber. According to USDA data for the Mission variety, dried figs are richest in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K, relative to human needs. They have smaller amounts of many other nutrients. Figs have a laxative effect and contain many antioxidants. They are good source of flavonoids and polyphenols[2]. In one study, a 40-gram portion of dried figs (two medium size figs) produced a significant increase in plasma antioxidant capacity.
-Technically, the fig is not really a fruit. It's actually an inverted flower, or multiple fruit, enclosed in stem tissue instead of ovary tissue. Botanically this is called a syconium. Only the small seeds would be considered fruits. The fig completely ripens and even partially dries while on the tree, without falling off. You'll know a fig is ripe when it begins to droop on the branch. When in season, their color goes from golden yellow to deep purple and black. Purchase them when they are firm, avoid them if mushy and spotted.
-When choosing fresh figs, select those which are plump and tender, have a rich, deep color. Ripe figs should not be washed until ready to eat and should be kept covered and refrigerated, where they will remain fresh for approximately two days. Unripe figs should be kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. The health benefits of figs include promoting healthy bowel function due to the high levels of fibre. Figs are amongst the most highly alkaline foods, making them useful in balancing the pH of the body. They are a good source of potassium, important in helping to regulate blood pressure. They also have anti-cancer properties.