I LOVE farmers markets. They’re an awesome place to try new foods, meet new people and support local vendors.

Yesterday, after an amazing lesson from Michael Beckwith and time with friends, I hit the Mar Vista farmers market. Figs are in season and they are fantastic.

Did you know that the word “sycophant” comes from the Greek word sykophantes, meaning “one who shows the fig?” “Showing the fig” was a vulgar gesture made with the hand. Maybe it’s because in the Bible, Adam and Eve clad themselves with fig leaves. Well! I’d like to show you the fig in a different light…

Here are some other fab fig facts:

Buddha achieved enlightenment under the bodhi tree, a large and old sacred fig tree.

In the Qur’an, Sahih al-Bukhari records Muhammad stating: “If I had to mention a fruit that descended from paradise, I would say this is it because the paradisiacal fruits do not have pits…eat from these fruits for they prevent hemorrhoids, prevent piles and help gout.”

Health benefits of figs

Fig fruit is low in calories. 100 g fresh fruits provide only 74 calories. However they contain health benefiting soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely for optimum health and wellness.

Dried figs are excellent source of minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. In fact dried fruits are concentrated sources of energy. 100 g dried figs provide 249 calories.

Fresh figs, especially black mission, are good in poly-phenolic flavonoid anti-oxidants such as carotenes, lutein, tannins, chlorgenic acid…etc. Their anti-oxidant value is comparable to that of apples at 3200 umol/100 g.

In addition, fresh fruits contain adequate levels of some of anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, E, and K. Altogether these phyto-chemical compounds in fig fruit help scavenge harmful oxygen derived free radicals from the body and thereby protect us from cancers, diabetes, degenerative diseases and infections.

Also research studies suggest that chlorogenic acid in these berries help lower blood sugar levels and control blood glucose levels in type-II diabetes mellitus (Adult onset) condition.

Fresh as well as dried figs contain good levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine, folates and pantothenic acid. These vitamins function as co-factors for metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Dried figs are excellent sources minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and zinc. 100 g of dried figs contain 640 mg of potassium, 162 mg of calcium, and 2.03 mg of iron. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is required for red blood cell formation as well for cellular oxidation.

SOOO, the next time you have a chance to pop a fresh fig, take it.

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