Are Figs Good for You?

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!

Print

Fig Flaxseed Snack Balls

Are figs good for you? Yes! Exploring what are figs good for will lead you to discover they are nutrient-rich and great in flaxseed snack balls.
Course Healthy Snacks
Keyword are figs good for you, flaxseed snack, what are figs good for
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 122kcal

Ingredients

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!

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag us @valleyfig —we’d love to see what you’re cooking on Instagram and Facebook!

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