I’m a huge fan of figs. If you’ve ever wondered are figs good for you, the short answer is yes (and is all about going with your gut—you’ll see why soon). But you might also wonder what are figs good for. Read on for ideas and a fig flaxseed snack recipe not to miss.
How are Figs Good for You
Figs are a nutritional powerhouse! They contain antioxidants, are a good source of dietary fiber, and contain essential minerals such as potassium, iron and calcium.
In addition to being delicious, Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Dried Figs are also shelf stable, which makes them convenient for storing in your pantry and bringing with you on the go.
I love pairing figs with nuts for an easy, nutritious, and portable snack, and also using them as the binder in no-bake flaxseed snack balls (see the end of this post for the recipe)!
Nutrition
Just one 100g serving of figs contains 10 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 14% of the RDI for potassium, 16% of the RDI for magnesium, and 12% of the RDI for calcium.
Fiber is important because a diet rich in fiber may reduce a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes, certain intestinal tract disorders, and even cardiovascular disease.
And speaking of fiber – did you know that figs also contain prebiotics?
Prebiotics are a specific type of fiber that pre-existing bacteria in our gut can ferment to use for energy, improving digestive wellness. I believe most of us have heard of probiotics by now; prebiotics are essentially food for probiotics.
Like other dietary fiber, our bodies can’t digest prebiotics, so they stay intact throughout most of the digestive tract. Once prebiotic fibers reach the gut bacteria in our large intestine, that bacteria ferments the prebiotics to fuel all its beneficial activities.
Prebiotics are important because your gut microbiota plays an important role in your health.
If you’re ready to eat up, there are a number of ways I love to enjoy figs in addition to eating them as is.
First is in salads! Grain salad bowls are my favorite easy throw together healthy lunch, and figs make a delicious fiber and flavor-packed addition. Simply dice them and throw them on top! They taste especially good with tart vinaigrettes.
I also love them diced on avocado toast with feta or goat cheese— the savory/sweet combination is delicious.
Figs also make an excellent addition to no bake flaxseed snack balls, as I mentioned previously!
Fig Flaxseed Snack Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Orchard Choice® or Sun-Maid® California Dried Figs , stems removed
- 1 cup nuts
- 1/4 cup flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Into a food processor, place all the ingredients
- Process until mostly uniform, then roll into balls.
- The seeds in dried figs add a nice pop of texture and flavor tothe nutty energy balls— and help them stick together, too!
4 Comments on “Are Figs Good for You?”
Fabulous recipe I loved it! I have to admit that I was in a hurry when I made this but it was really great and I hope it will be better when I will make it again. Thanks a lot for sharing the benefits and recipe.
We are so glad you made the fig flax energy bites and enjoyed them!
los higos son deliciosos y nutritivos.
Si, Carlos! Son deliciosos y ingredientes por alimentacion saludable.