THE GLYCEMIC INDEX OF FIG

Quraan Fruits

Dried figs have a moderate ranking on the glycemic index, or GI. If you're planning meals and snacks based on the GI value of the foods you eat, you can eat dried figs without experiencing a rapid, marked increase in your blood sugar. However, dried figs have a higher concentration of carbohydrates relative to their volume than fresh figs, which means that a serving of fresh figs may satisfy your appetite more effectively while adding fewer carbs to your diet. The University of Sydney's Glycemic Index Group, which developed the method for measuring the ability of a food to raise blood glucose levels, has not tested the effects of fresh figs.

Glycemic Index Value

The glycemic index rates the effects of a food on the blood sugar levels of human test subjects. The more significantly and more rapidly a food elevates blood glucose levels, the higher that food ranks on a scale of zero to 100. A serving of dried figs weighing 60 g, or 2 oz., has a GI value of 61. Your body digests and absorbs the carbohydrates in foods that have a moderate to high GI value more rapidly than the carbs in low-GI foods, resulting in more significant increase in your blood sugar after you eat them.

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Glycemic Load

The glycemic load, or GL, includes the amount of carbohydrates in a food and the GI value of those carbohydrates in a single calculation. Dried figs have a GI of 61 and a GL of 16, compared to a fresh apple, which has a GI of 40 and a GL of 6. This difference indicates that a serving of dried figs will have almost three times the metabolic effect of a fresh apple. If you're planning your diet on the basis of how foods affect your blood sugar, the apple may help you control your blood glucose levels more effectively than dried figs.

Carbohydrate Content

Because the dehydration process results in a higher concentration of sugar relative to weight, dried figs have a higher concentration of carbohydrates -- mostly in the form of sugar -- than fresh figs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a 60 g serving of dried, uncooked figs has 6 g of fiber and 29 g of sugar. A 60 g serving of fresh figs has 2 g of fiber and 10 g of sugar. However, this serving of fresh figs also has 48 g of water, compared to 18 g of water in dried figs. The water content of fresh fruits and vegetables helps to create a sense of fullness after you eat these foods. Equivalent servings of dried fruits and vegetables may not satisfy your appetite as effectively.

Balancing Foods

When you eat dried figs in combination with foods that are high in protein, which has no marked effect on blood sugar, or low-GI foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, you reduce the overall effects of dried figs on your blood glucose levels. Eating a fresh orange or a serving of cheese in combination with dried figs would result in a lower effect on your blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you emphasize fresh fruit in your diet and limit your servings of dried fruit because of the higher amounts of sugar that dried fruit contains.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FIG

Quraan Fruits

Figs originated in Arabia and grow best in areas with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually an inverted flower, and the seeds are the fruit, according to the California Fig Advisory Board. Flower or fruit, the nutrient-rich dried fig can help you meet some of your essential nutrient needs, making it a healthy addition to your diet.

High in Fiber

A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 7.3 g of fiber. Including more fiber in your diet can help lower your risk of chronic illness such as heart disease and diabetes. Dried figs contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows digestion for appetite and blood sugar control and also helps lower blood cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, improving bowel function. Healthy adult women need 21 to 25 g of fiber a day, and adult men 30 to 38 g of fiber a day.

Figs contain more calcium than most other fruits, according to the California Fig Advisory Board, with 121 mg in a 1/2-cup serving. Adequate calcium intake supports bone health and growth, and reduces your risk of developing osteoporosis. Adults need 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium a day. One serving of dried figs meets 12 percent of your daily value for calcium, almost the same as 1 cup of unpacked cottage cheese. Including a variety of calcium-rich foods in your diet, like dried figs, can make help ensure that you meet your daily needs.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Consuming dried figs can help you meet your daily potassium needs and help lower your blood pressure. A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 507 mg of potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps maintain fluid balance. Increasing your daily intake of potassium can help blunt the effects of sodium, helping to lower your blood pressure. The American Heart Association says a healthy diet should contain 4,700 mg of potassium a day from natural foods. One serving of dried figs can help you meet 10 percent of your daily potassium needs.

Good Source of Iron

Dried figs can also help you meet your iron needs. A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 1.5 mg of iron. Iron is an essential mineral needed to help transport oxygen in your blood. Without enough iron in your diet, delivery of oxygen to your cells decreases, causing you to feel tired and weak and more susceptible to infection. Adult men and women over the age of 51 need 8 mg of iron a day, and women between the ages of 19 and 50 need 18 mg of iron a day.


Beneficial Nutrients

Fresh figs contain 2 g of fiber per fig, and 1/2 cup of dried figs contains 5.4 grams. Most females need 25 g of fiber a day, while most men need 38 grams a day. Eating adequate amounts of fiber from figs and other foods not only increases the efficiency of your digestive system, but can also help you stay full. Figs also contain iron, calcium, potassium and a trace of fat. Eating one fig gives you 6 mg of vitamin C, a trace of B vitamins, no vitamin A and a trace of lutein and zeaxanthin. These two nutrients may help macular degeneration caused by age, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.

Weight Loss Benefits

Eating figs can help you follow a Mediterranean-style diet, which emphasizes fresh fruits, healthy fats, vegetables, fish and olive oil. A meta-analysis study published in the February 2011 issue of the journal "Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders" concluded that following a Mediterranean-style diet, in conjunction with reduced caloric intake, can help people lose weight. Nancy Jones, registered dietitian for the Cleveland Clinic includes figs among other fruits and vegetables to eat when using a Mediterranean diet. Using figs while losing weight can also make it easy to meet your fruit requirement.

Strategies

If you purchase fresh figs, choose firm figs with the stems still attached. Keep fresh figs in the refrigerator to lengthen their shelf life. Simply wash the fruit before eating. When using dried figs, the California Fig Advisory Board recommends keeping the package in the pantry in an airtight container. Use figs as a snack, in plain Greek yogurt or as a side dish with a piece of grilled seafood or chicken. You can include figs in a fruit salad, or stuff the figs with fat-free cream cheese, almonds, celery and paprika.

Constipation and Figs

Constipation -- in which your bowel movements become infrequent, difficult or painful due to hard, constricted stools -- can make you uncomfortable, distracted and irritable. Insufficient dietary fiber is often the culprit; other causes include inadequate fluid intake, sedentary lifestyle and certain medications. Nutritionists and natural healers often recommend figs to alleviate constipation. High in beneficial fiber as well as being tasty and nutritious, figs may be just the thing to help get sluggish bowels moving again.

Features

Although individual habits can vary greatly, bowel movements that occur less than three times a week -- along with hard, dry stools -- generally indicate constipation. Other symptoms include straining excessively, a feeling that your bowels aren't fully emptied and a sensation of rectal blockage. In addition to insufficient fiber, fluids and exercise, certain medical conditions can cause constipation. If symptoms are severe and if bowel movements occur more than three days apart despite changes in diet and exercise, MayoClinic. com advises seeing your doctor. Also, seek care medical care right away if you have severe abdominal pain, bloody or pencil-thin stools, constipation alternating with diarrhea or unexplained weight loss. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as eating a high-fiber diet and getting more physical activity. He may also recommend laxatives or stool softeners.

Fig Basics

Figs, botanically known as Ficus carica, are small, pear-shaped fruits with succulent flesh and a rich, sweet flavor with overtones of caramel. Popular varieties include Brown Turkey, Kadota and Black Mission. Four raw figs contain 1.50 g of protein, .60 g of total fat, 38.36 g of carbohydrates, 5.8 g of total dietary fiber and 32.52 g of natural sugars. Figs are low in fat, low in salt, high in fiber and cholesterol-free. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber, these nutritious little fruits contain a modest 37 calories apiece. High in calcium and potassium, figs also contain the trace minerals manganese, copper, iron, zinc and selenium, as well as the antioxidant vitamins A, E and K.

Benefits for Constipation

Figs are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Also called bulk or roughage, fiber can help relieve constipation by promoting the movement of material through the large intestine, while adding bulk, weight and softness to stools. All On Health endorses figs for constipation, reporting that they assist digestion by cleansing the intestine. MayoClinic. com suggests eating a serving of fruit, such as figs, at each meal. To get the maximum benefit from figs, eat the skins as well as the pulp; this is where the majority of the fiber is found. MayoClinic.com advises drinking plenty of water when you eat fiber-rich foods; this can soften stools and help them to pass more easily. In addition to promoting regularity, fiber-rich foods can help to regulate weight, lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels and help to prevent serious diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and strokes.

Selection and Use

Ripe figs can range in color from pale green to yellow to purplish-crimson, depending on the variety. To ensure good quality and freshness, select figs with intact, shiny skin and a yielding, soft -- but not mushy -- consistency. Avoid figs with bruises or signs of fungus. The fig should smell sweet and fragrant, with no whiff of mold. Figs should be eaten within two to three days of purchase; store them in a plastic zip pouch to ensure freshness.

More 23 Amazing Benefits Of Figs For Skin, Hair And Health

Figs are bell shaped fruits with wrinkled and leathery skin. They are one of the sweetest fruits and also have a very sweet aroma. They can vary in size, shape and colour. Figs are mainly classified by colour – white, black or red. These are some more popular varieties of fig:
Black genoa
Adriatic figs
Brown TurkeyMission
Calimyrna
Kadota

Let us quickly see the most well known benefits of Figs


Health Benefits Of Figs

1. Mouth

Chew 2-3 tender fig leaves and gargle with water to overcome bad breath and ulcer.

2. Sexual Vitality

Fig is an orthodox remedy to increase sexual weakness. Soak 4-5 figs in milk overnight and eat in the morning to overcome weakness.

3. Kidney Stones

Boil 6 figs in a cup of water. Consume this daily up to a month to remove kidney stones.

4. Acne

Apply mashed fresh figs all over your face and let it dry for 15-20minutes. This remedy is useful for curing acne.


Also milky juice of fig stem and leaves can be applied daily several times to cure warts.

They also have anti-ageing properties.

5. Diabetes

Since figs are high in potassium, they help reduce insulin. Daily, consume fig seeds with one teaspoon of honey to control diabetes. Try doing this for a week to see good results.

Also Fig leaves can be consumed for anti-diabetic properties

6. Healthy Bones

Figs have good amount of calcium in it. This helps to strengthen bones.

7. Chicken Pox

Early stages of chicken pox can be treated with figs.

8. Weight Loss

Figs include good amount of dietary fibers, which are helpful for reducing body weight.

9. Sore Throat:

Mix dries fig and honey in water to get rid of sore throat.


10. Constipation:

Consume 2-3 soaked dried figs with a tablespoon of honey. Use this continuously for a month every morning to relive constipation.

Figs for the Skin

A fig is not just a delicious and healthy fruit but is a great natural ingredient for your skin care. It helps you to stay young and beautiful inside and out. Some of the benefits of figs for the skin are:

11. Figs are rich in important nutrients like Vitamin B, C, phosphorus, potassium and minerals like calcium and magnesium which are essential for boosting and rejuvenating the skins health. The high omega 3 fatty acids in figs keep the skin well-moisturized and conditioned from within.

12. Applying baked fig directly on the skin brings down various forms of skin inflammation like boils and abscess. It also cures minor zits and pimples. Apply fig juice on your feet to cure corns.

13. Figs are loaded with anti-oxidants and dietary fiber which make it an excellent natural laxative for the body. It helps to flush out toxins and waste from the body to prevent skin conditions like acne and psoriasis, and gives you healthy and glowing skin.

14. Application of fig paste on the face helps to transport important nutrients into the dermal layers of the skin to replenish it from within. Take some fresh figs and process them in a mixer with 1 tablespoon of yogurt to make a fine paste. Apply this all over the face and massage you skin gently with it for a few minutes. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water. If you cannot find fresh figs then soak some dried figs overnight and blend them to form a smooth paste.

15. You can also prepare a natural, homemade scrub using fig paste. Mix 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoon of fresh orange juice with 2 tablespoon fig paste. Add a few drops of olive oil and use this scrub on both your face and body weekly to get smooth and soft skin. The enzymes present in figs will remove the dead skin cells and the sugar will mildly polish the skin.

16. Figs contain a high amount of Vitamin C which helps to lighten and even out the skin tone. Prepare a fig paste by mixing powdered oatmeal and dried ginger powder. Add a few drops of bergamot essential oil and stir to form a smooth paste. Use this face pack twice a week to get even-toned skin.

17. Not just the flesh, the peels of figs too contain active enzyme which act as an exfoliator to clear the dead cell debris from the skin. All you need to do is wash and clean the peels, and scrub the skin with the inside of the peel for flawless and smooth skin.

18. Figs have amazing moisturizing properties as they contain around 3/4 cups of water. It is often used as a moisturizer on the skin to restore its suppleness. Apply some fig paste on your lips to alleviate cracked lips. Application of fig paste on the face helps to tighten the pores and control excess sebum secretion.

Figs for the Hair 

19. Fruits rich in Vitamin C and E fight hair loss problems and maintain the proper health of the hair. Figs contain hair-friendly nutrients like magnesium, Vitamin C and E which promote hair growth. The essential nutrients present in this fruit stimulate blood circulation in the body to accelerate hair growth.

20. Figs contain a high amount of calcium which contributes to the formation of collagen that makes up our hair and scalp.

21. Figs are very popular in the hair care industry as their extracts are used to create amazing hair conditioners. Figs’ extracts provide moisture to the scalp and help in the detangling of hair. It moisturizes the hair without making it heavy or weighed down.

22. Fig oil is ideal for wavy, coarse and curly hair. It rehydrates the hair to make it lustrous, shiny and manageable. Add 10 drops of fig oil to your hair mask and apply it all over the hair. Leave it for one hour and then shampoo as usual. Or, you can even mix fig oil with your conditioner to get silky, smooth hair. Rinse your hair thoroughly after shampooing and remove excess water from the hair. Add 5 to 7 drops of fig oil to you conditioner and apply it properly on the hair. Let it stay for 5 to 7 minutes and then wash off.

23. Figs provide the beneficial copper enzyme which helps to maintain the color of the hair. It is an excellent fruit for people suffering from graying hair.

Hence consume figs regularly to benefit your skin and hair in many more ways than you can imagine.

Selection and Storage

Fresh figs are available yearly from June to November while dried figs are available throughout the year. Figs should be allowed to ripen fully before they are picked. Select figs that are plump and tender. They should be devoid of bruises and dents, and should not be mushy. Perfect and fresh figs emit a mildly sweet fragrance when given slight pressure. Smelly figs are an indication that they might be spoiled or have already begun to ferment. Stay away from unripe, green figs as they can burn your mouth and lips.

Fresh figs do not have a long shelf life as they are very delicate in nature. So, figs should be placed in the refrigerator immediately after purchasing. Place them in a plastic or zip pouch or wrap them to ensure that they do not dry out or get crushed while handling. Slightly ripe figs should be kept at room temperature, away from direct sunlight to allow them to ripen completely. Since fresh figs get perished easily, they should be consumed within 2 to 3 days. If you have stored figs in the refrigerator, take them out and place them in a bowl of water to enrich their taste and palatability.

Dried figs can be kept for several months either in the refrigerator or in a cool and dry place. Figs can also be frozen whole, sliced or peeled, in a sealed container for more than 3 months. Figs are also available in the canned form which comes with a shelf life of 6 months and should be consumed within a week of opening.

You need to exercise caution while consuming figs in high amounts as figs can cause allergic reactions, ranging from vomiting to diarrhea and even itchy skin. People who have very sensitive skin or a history of allergy should avoid eating or applying figs on the skin. Never consume unripe figs; they produce white latex, containing compounds like furocoumarins, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) which can cause severe allergy around the mouth and lips that can easily spread to the other body parts.

Usage

Luscious and sweet figs are seasonal fruits which are enjoyed by one and all. Figs are extremely juicy and sweet, and have a chewy flesh and crunchy seeds. They are eaten in both the raw and dry forms. Fresh figs are more nutritious than dry figs, so try to include more of fresh figs in your diet than the dry ones. Before eating or using figs, wash them under running water and gently remove the stem. You can eat fresh figs whole or peeled. Simmer frozen figs in water to make them plumper and juicier.

Fresh figs are a great addition to salads, cakes and ice creams. Sweet and juicy figs should be enjoyed without any additions to enjoy their taste to the fullest. Since figs are highly alkaline, you can mix them with other foods too. It will not alter the fig’s taste in any way.

Dried figs have much higher sugar content than the fresh ones, so you can chop and add them to your desserts and other sweet dishes to add a touch of sweetness. Processed figs are used in making pies, pudding, cakes, jam and other bakery products while dried figs are used for preparing muesli bars, porridge and as an addition to cereals and porridges. You can also add dried figs to soups, stews and in meat preparation to enhance the taste. The paste of figs is also used as a sugar substitute in some regions.

Some Important Tips

Always wash figs thoroughly and gently.
Use fresh Figs for best results.
When cutting or chopping, dip knife in warm water to prevent sticking
Avoid limp figs.
If dried figs have become too hard, try soaking them in water.
Store figs in a bag in coldest part of the fridge.
Use figs regularly for best results
Eating too much of figs can cause diarrhea and tooth decay.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF DRIED FIG

Quraan Fruits

Figs originated in Arabia and grow best in areas with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually an inverted flower, and the seeds are the fruit, according to the California Fig Advisory Board. Flower or fruit, the nutrient-rich dried fig can help you meet some of your essential nutrient needs, making it a healthy addition to your diet.
High in Fiber

A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 7.3 g of fiber. Including more fiber in your diet can help lower your risk of chronic illness such as heart disease and diabetes. Dried figs contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows digestion for appetite and blood sugar control and also helps lower blood cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, improving bowel function. Healthy adult women need 21 to 25 g of fiber a day, and adult men 30 to 38 g of fiber a day.

Good for Your Bones

Figs contain more calcium than most other fruits, according to the California Fig Advisory Board, with 121 mg in a 1/2-cup serving. Adequate calcium intake supports bone health and growth, and reduces your risk of developing osteoporosis. Adults need 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium a day. One serving of dried figs meets 12 percent of your daily value for calcium, almost the same as 1 cup of unpacked cottage cheese. Including a variety of calcium-rich foods in your diet, like dried figs, can make help ensure that you meet your daily needs.

Lowers Blood Pressure


Consuming dried figs can help you meet your daily potassium needs and help lower your blood pressure. A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 507 mg of potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps maintain fluid balance. Increasing your daily intake of potassium can help blunt the effects of sodium, helping to lower your blood pressure. The American Heart Association says a healthy diet should contain 4,700 mg of potassium a day from natural foods. One serving of dried figs can help you meet 10 percent of your daily potassium needs.

Good Source of Iron

Dried figs can also help you meet your iron needs. A 1/2-cup serving of dried figs contains 1.5 mg of iron. Iron is an essential mineral needed to help transport oxygen in your blood. Without enough iron in your diet, delivery of oxygen to your cells decreases, causing you to feel tired and weak and more susceptible to infection. Adult men and women over the age of 51 need 8 mg of iron a day, and women between the ages of 19 and 50 need 18 mg of iron a day.

VITAMINS IN FRESH FIG

Quraan Fruits

Health benefits of figs can be attributed to the presence of minerals and vitamins in them. Figs contain vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, sodium, potassium and chlorine.

A few of its health benefits include

Prevent constipation
There are 5 grams of fiber per three-fig serving. So, it helps in healthy bowel function and prevents constipation.
Helps to reduce weight: The fiber in figs also helps to reduce weight and is recommended for obese people.

Lower cholesterol
 Figs contain Pectin, a soluble fiber. When fiber goes through the digestive system, it mops up globes of cholesterol and carries them out of body.

Prevent coronary heart disease
Dried figs contain phenol, Omega-3 and Omega-6. These fatty acids reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Prevent colon cancer
The presence of fiber helps to mop up and usher out cancer causing substances.
Protection against post-menopausal breast cancer: Fiber content in figs give protection against breast cancer.

Good for diabetic patients
The American Diabetes Association recommends figs for a high fiber treat. Fig leaves reduce the amount of insulin needed by diabetic patients who have to take insulin injection. Fig is rich in Potassium. Potassium helps to control blood sugar. Fig leaves have anti-diabetic properties

Prevention of hypertension 
People used to take more sodium in the form of salt. Low potassium and high sodium level may lead to hypertension. Figs are high in potassium but low in sodium. So, it helps to avoid hypertension.

Strengthens bones
Figs are rich in Calcium. Calcium helps to strengthen bones.People having high calcium diet may be affected by increased urinary calcium loss. Potassium content in figs helps to avoid that.

Prevent muscular degeneration
Vision loss in older people is due to muscular degeneration. Fruits and figs generally are good for avoiding this condition.

Relief for throat 
The high mucilage content in figs, helps to heal and protect sore throats.

Figs are quite useful in various respiratory disorders including whooping cough and asthma. Since they are also good for digestion, they help in treating constipation, indigestion, stomach ache, etc. Fig is also good for fever, earache, boils, abscesses, venereal diseases and is excellent for the liver. Fig is a highly alkaline food, therefore helps to regulate the pH of the body. Figs are rich in flavonoids and polyphenols. These are antioxidants, which prevent the damage caused by free radicals. Fig is known for its soothing and laxative properties. Figs are low in fat and sugar.

Figs are sweet and soft and their paste is used as a replacement for sugar. Processed figs are used to make pies, pudding, cakes, other bakery products, jam, jellies and preserves.

Fig

Quraan Fruits

Fig, plant of the genus Ficus, of the mulberry family (Moraceae), especially Ficus
carica, the common fig. Ficus carica, which yields the well-known figs of commerce, is indigenous to an area extending from Asiatic Turkey to northern India, but natural seedlings grow in most Mediterranean countries. It is a bush or small tree, from 1 m (3 feet) to 10 to 12 m (33 to 39 feet) high, with broad, rough, deciduous leaves that are deeply lobed or sometimes nearly entire.

Fig fruits are borne singly or in pairs above the scars of fallen leaves or in axils of leaves of the present season. Flowers are staminate (male) or pistillate (female). Long-styled female flowers are characteristic of the fruits of most garden and orchard fig trees. Short-styled female flowers are found only in fruits of the caprifig tree and are adapted to the egg-laying habits of the fig wasp, or Blastophaga. Male flowers, which produce pollen, are found in caprifigs, usually near the apex.

In addition to the caprice, there are three other horticultural types of fig: Smyrna, White San Pedro, and Common. Smyrna-type figs develop only when fertile seeds are present, and these seeds account for the generally excellent quality and nutty flavor of the fruit. Figs of the White San Pedro type combine the characteristics of both the Smyrna and the Common type on one tree. First-crop figs develop without flower pollination, while second-crop figs in axial of leaves require it. Common figs such as the Dottato, Fraga, and Brown Turkey do not require pollination of flowers of either crop, the seeds in the mature fruit usually being hollow. The flowers of such figs were once regarded as incapable of fecundation and were therefore designated as mule flowers; but it has been proved that all common figs can produce fertile seeds if the flowers are pollinated.

The varieties of figs grown in various parts of the world run into the hundreds. Their nomenclature is very much confused, since the same fig is often grown in neighboring provinces under entirely different names. When a fig is introduced into other countries, a new name is commonly coined. Thus Lob Injir of Smyrna became Calimyrna in California, and Dottato of Italy became Kadota. The Italian San Piero is known in England as Negro Largo, in France as Aubique Noire, and in California as San Pedro Black, Brown Turkey, or Black Spanish.

The fig was one of the earliest fruit trees cultivated by primitive peoples, and its cultivation spread in remote ages over all the districts around the Aegean Sea and throughout the Levant. The Greeks are said to have received it from Caria (hence the specific name); Attic figs became celebrated in the East, and special laws were made to regulate their exportation. The fig was one of the principal articles of sustenance among the Greeks; the Spartans especially used it at their public tables. Pliny the Elder enumerates many varieties and describes those of home growth as furnishing a large portion of the food of slaves. In Latin myth the fig was held sacred to Bacchus and employed in religious ceremonies; the fig tree that overshadowed the twin founders of Rome in the wolf ’s cave was an emblem of the future prosperity of the race.

In Mediterranean countries the fig is so widely used, both fresh and dried, that it is called “the poor man’s food.” The fruit contains significant amounts of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron.

Fig trees are propagated from cuttings of dormant wood taken in February in the Northern Hemisphere and planted in nursery rows. These grow in one season to a height of 1 m (3 feet) and are ready to transplant at the end of the growing season. The trees thrive in a wide range of soil types and in most Mediterranean countries receive water only from the natural rainfall. Some varieties produce only one crop, in summer or fall. Some bear two crops, the first maturing in June or July on wood of the previous growth and the second ripening in summer or fall in the axial of the leaves of the same season. In cool climates such as those of England and central France, most varieties mature only the first crop. Pot culture of figs in greenhouses has long been practiced in England and other countries.

In most districts, figs are gathered when they fall and placed on trays for drying. Turning and manipulating during the drying process improves the texture and quality of the product. In the Old World, figs are grown commercially in Italy, Turkey, Algeria, Greece, Portugal, and Spain.

Fig and Heart Health

Quraan Fruits

Fabulous Figs and Other Fruit for Your Heart

What Eating Fruit Can Do for You

Sweet and delicious raw, dried, or as jam, figs are one of the plant kingdom’s brightest stars in terms of calcium and fiber content. However, what really labels figs as a bona fide heart attack prevention superfood is their extraordinary amount of carotenoids, most notably lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene. Few foods on earth are known to contain such an array of heart-health-promoting antioxidants.

That is why figs and other fruit are part of a plan I developed to reverse heart disease, and/or to build good heart health to hopefully avoid heart troubles. My full program is detailed in Prevent a Second Heart Attack:

8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease. The other key food groups are olive oil, leafy greens, lentils and other legumes, salmon and other seafood, walnuts and flax seeds, oatmeal and other whole grains, and red wine. Dark chocolate is a bonus food in this plan. Yeah!

Figs,like many of the fruit that Mother Nature has so generously provided us, are nutrient-dense, meaning you get a big nutritional bang for your calorie buck. Fruit contains a good amount of fiber, vitamins, and potassium,plus an extraordinary array of potent plaque-fighting poly phenols.
These sweet treats should be part of everyone’s heart-disease-fighting arsenal.

Daily intake of a variety of different types of fruit is good for the heart. Aim to mix ’n’ match your fruit for health. Try a Mediterranean-style fruit such as figs or pomegranate, a vitamin C-rich fruit such as kiwi and don’t forget the other fruits such as apples or bananas. Consuming at least three fruits a day can boost your heart disease defense system by:

• Increasing your body’s antioxidant level—fruit is a virtual antioxidant factory, housing a nice amount of flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C

• Immunizing “bad” LDL cholesterol against free radical attack

• Protecting against endothelial dysfunction. A key early event in the process of atherosclerosis is when an abnormality in the functioning of the inner layer of the artery wall—the endothelium—arises, termed “endothelial dysfunction”

• Lowering your blood pressure. Fruits—especially bananas, oranges, and prunes—are loaded with potassium. Potassium is a mineral superstar when it comes to helping you attain a healthy blood pressure reading

• Helping you control your weight. Fiber-rich, low-calorie fruits and vegetables increase feelings of satiety, which helps with weight control. So as you fill up on those low-calorie, antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies, you’ll also watch your waistline go down—slowly but surely.

Here are a few ideas to help you get in your minimum of three servings of whole fruit a day — to help you and your heart:

• Make fresh fruit and whole grains standard breakfast fare. Add seasonal berries or dried fruit such as cranberries into your oatmeal (the heart-healthiest breakfast cereal). If you drink juice at breakfast, switch to eating a whole fruit —this way you get more fiber and flavonoids in fewer calories—a bargain that both your heart and your waistline can appreciate!

• Add figs or other dried fruits like cranberries, apricots, or currants to your dark green leafy salad—a delicious, sweet addition to spruce up the salad as well as give you a feast of antioxidants, especially if you dress the salad with lemon juice and an olive oil vinaigrette.

• Try fruit for dessert. If you just can’t go to bed without a little something sweet, why not try some dried figs? And no, I’m not talking about a certain famous fig cookie, two of which give you a mere 1 gram of fiber (not to mention lots of added sugar, salt, and even some artery-clogging trans fat). Compare that to the real thing—what Mother Nature intended for us to eat—two dried figs, which offer a whopping 5 grams of fiber, a huge cache of blood-pressure-lowering potassium (348 milligrams), and a nice dose of bone-building calcium, with 0 added sugar or fat. If it was good enough for Cleopatra, why not give it a try?

• Make fruit easily accessible. Place an eye-appealing bowl of assorted fruit smack dab in the center of high-traffic areas in your house and be sure to grab a piece when you walk by.

Substitute fruit for fat in baking recipes. Mashed bananas or prune puree work astonishingly well in baked goods. They add moistness with fiber and flavonoids—but without the fat. If you’re not a baker, dried figs are a tasty addition to soups or legume dishes and add a hint of sweetness. You may be surprised at how some foods truly come alive with the addition of this colorful and healthy, class of super foods.


Fig Fruit for Hypertension Prevention

Sweet taste of this fruit was rich in nutrients and has many health benefits. Although seasonal, the fruit is often available in dried form. It was also going to be sweeter in dry form and nutritious because it contains vitamins A, B, and minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, and manganese.

 Here are some of the benefits of figs that might not be known by you:


 1. Hypertension can occur if potassium levels are too high sodium and low potassium in the body. Fig Fruits low in sodium and high potassium so potent prevent hypertension.

 2. Dried figs contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids along with phenol. All is useful to prevent coronary heart disease.

 3. Figs are also rich in calcium, so good for strengthening bones.

 4. Because of potassium-rich, figs helps regulate blood sugar. This is certainly beneficial for diabetics.

 5. Pectin, soluble fiber can be found in figs that are beneficial to the digestive system. This soluble fiber also helps clean the cholesterol that accumulates in the body.

 6. Eating figs effectively treat sore throat due to the high content of mucus.

 . During this time, figs have also been used to treat sexual weakness. The trick, soak about 2-3 figs in milk overnight and eat in the morning.

 . Because the content of iron, figs useful to treat anemia.

 . Creamed fresh figs and apply to the face, leave on for 10-15 minutes. This is effective for treating acne.

 . Eating figs can restore a sense of fatigue and increased brain power.

Fig Leaves and Diabetes

Quraan Fruits

Balance Blood Sugar with These Leaves

Figs have a long and ancient history; they are thought to be one of the first fruits ever to be cultivated by humans. Figs are high in calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, and potassium. But what about fig leaves? Have you ever considered their health benefits? Fig leaves are healing foods that are best known as an effective alternative therapy for treating diabetes.

In one clinical trial, researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, studied the effects of a decoction of fig leaves (“Ficus carica”) on diabetes control. Six men and four women who were insulin-dependent diabetes patients were recruited for the trial. The patients were managed with their usual diabetes diet and their twice-daily insulin injection. During the first month, patients were given a decoction of fig leaves; during the next month, they were given a non-sweet commercial tea.

The patients were divided into two groups. A standard breakfast was given at the beginning and end of each month-run. Glycemic profiles (seven/day per week) were recorded by patients. The research team found that post-prandial glycemia was significantly lower during supplementation with fig leaves. In fact, the average insulin dose was 12% lower during the period when fig leaves were administered to the group.

If you are diabetic and want to try taking a supplement made from fig leaves, remember that you may need less insulin — be sure to get your doctor’s advice. Do not stop taking or reduce your regular medication without talking it over with your doctor. It is probably best to take the fig leaf extract with breakfast, first thing in the morning. An additional home remedy is to boil the leaves of the fig in some freshly filtered water and drink this as a tea.

In addition to their anti-diabetic properties, fig leaves have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In a clinical trial conducted at the Faculty of Pharmacy, New Delhi, India, researchers evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of “F. carica” leaves. Their study validated that the antioxidant effect of fig leaves is likely due to the presence of steroids and flavonoids and the anti-inflammatory activity could be due to free radical scavenging activity.


Can You Eat Fig Leaves?


Once used to protect the privacy of Adam and Eve and adorn the bodies of Greeks and Romans, fig leaves are most commonly known for their spiritual and mythical symbolism. Although these large leaves do serve as adequate body coverings, they can also be transformed into a delectable dish. In fact, fig leaves are not only edible, but also provide various health benefits when consumed.
Identification

Grown on the ficus tree, the fig is a nutritious and sweet member of the mulberry family. The mild fruits can be eaten whole and are usually eaten in a dried form. However, they can also be eaten raw, cooked, baked and grilled. Figs grow alongside bright-green leaves with a very distinct shape. The Dave's Garden website describes the fruit's leaves as "unique, deeply lobed, finger-like leaves."


Diabetes

As explained on the Elements 4 Health website, consuming fig leaves can provide several healthy benefits for the body. Among these benefits, its anti-diabetic properties are among the most recognized. When consumed by a person with diabetes, fig leaves actually lower the amount of insulin required by the body. These extraordinary effects allow the diabetic to administer less insulin by injection, a costly and often life-long process.

Triglycerides

Along with their anti-diabetes properties, fig leaves also have been shown to lower the body's triglyceride levels. A triglyceride is the storage form of fat inside the body. Although a certain supply of triglycerides is required for proper health and body function, too many triglycerides greatly increase the risk for obesity and heart disease. However, a diet with regular fig leaf consumption may help lower these health risks as it gradually lowers triglyceride levels.

Home Remedies

Along with their remarkable anti-diabetes and triglyceride-lowering effects, fig leaves are also used in a variety of other home remedies for various medical conditions. In fact, the Natural News website recommends the mild leaf for conditions ranging from bronchitis to ulcers. According to the website, fig leaf tea can be beneficial for cardiovascular problems, cancer patients and people with high blood pressure. To make fig leaf tea, simply boil fig leaves in water for at least 15 minutes. A home remedy for bronchitis involves boiling water with three fig leaves and piloncillo, an unrefined sugar. A home remedy for ulcers involves chewing and swallowing two whole fig leaves daily.

Fig Verieties

Quraan Fruits

Adriano

A superb flavor fig created by mutation. It's flavor is
outstanding. Small, skin cracks when ripe and has light
red stripes.

Adriana

One of the best tasting figs from Italy.

Alma

A high quality medium, yellow brownish, very sweet fig.
Good for pots and cold resistant.

Ariane

An outstanding flavored, medium to large, yellowish
green fig from Portugal. Early heavy bearer.

Aldo

An excellent large to medium redish brown fig with two crops.

Barada

An excellent large to medium green honey fig with two crops.
Photo/ Dr. Leon

Atreano

An outstanding flavored large greenish fig, Cold climate
tolerant.

Bagalhouce

The moonshine fig ,from Pico, Azores . A small white fig,
very sweet.

Barbillone

A medium to large greenish violet fig, with very good
quality with two crops. Brebas is large and juicy.

Barnachotte

A lemon yellow skin, very sweet high quality fig. Good tree
for growing in a pot.


Bayenfeige Violetta

A very good large redish brown fig with two crops.
Cold resistant to -20°C.

Beall

An excellent medium to large purplish black fig.

Bêbera Branca

A long whhitefig from Caniço, Madeira Island.

Bêbera Prêta

A long black fig from Caniço, Madeira Island. Excellent.


Beneixama

An excellent black top commercial fig withl 2 crops early .
Biancheta Bianco, Celeste & Black Portugal

Biancheta

A small white prolific fig of high quality,melts in your
mouth. Good pot plant.Cold resistant.

Bianchi Guido

A light green medium fig . Very sweet and tender.

Bifara (Italian Purple)

A large sweet fig with strawberry pulp. Two crops annually.

Big Granata

A large to very large fig with very good flavor. Two crops annually.

Black Jack

A large purple black, high quality fig . Good pot plant.

Black Madeira

A medium black fig with outstanding taste. To some people,
it is the best tasting fig in the Island of Madeira, Portugal.

Black Madeira Flat

A large black fig from the Island of Madeira, Portugal.

Black Portugal

A huge black fig. Very good flavor.

Black Marseilles

A medium black fig with tender, very juicy, excellent flavor.

Black Weeping

A large, very sweet, and juicy fig. It's tree has weeping

branches

Blanche de Deux Saisons

Blanquette

A very good, small, greenish yellow fig.

Brogiotto Nero ( Briogiotto Fiorentino)

A large redish purple fig, more tolerant in cold weather than most. Very sweet, oustanding figs.

Brogiotto Bianco

The king of all figs, a large flat white fig. Very short neck, skin
cracks when ripe. Excellent quality, a delicate tasteful fig, a mix
of honey surrounds the full pulp.

Brogiotto Nero Romano

A super violet-purple fig with excellent flavor, very sweet and rich. A good pot plant.

Black Mission(Proper name Franciscana)

A purple black, huge, medium sweet, rich flavor fig.

Quality is excellent.

Black Rei

A large purple brown fig, very sweet, from Portugal.

Brunswick

A medium to large, reddish brown, sweet, rich flavor fig.

Capelas

It's trees are slow growing and spreading, from St. Michael,Azores. One of the best figs in the North Hemisphere if planted in the ground. Good tree for growing in a pot. Fruit is large and of outstaning quality. Breba is huge. Very sweet even in cold weather.

Castanhal

A medium, brown, very sweet fig from Caniço, Madeira Island.

Carne Doncella

A very sweet, high quality, purplish black fig with 2
crops ,very sweet. Early breba

Celeste Family:

Good bearers, easy to keep up and
good for pot plants. Their figs are rich in flavor and
hardy in cold climate.

Blue Celeste(greenish blue)

Champagne(golden Celeste)
Tiger(Celeste Gigante)

Col de Dame Blanche

One of the best figs in our collection. A large white,
very sweet, outstanding fig.

Col de Dame Grise

A large purple gray fig of high quality. It's juicy
and very sweet.

Col de Dame Noir

A tasteful large black fig. Outstanding.

Colar -

A very large black, high quality fig with 2 crops.
Rated the #1 commercially grown in Spain.

Conadria

A large light greenish yellow fig. The eye is very tight and small. Average weight is 1.7 oz. Two crops. Very good fresh or dried with excellent flavor.

Corynth

One of the best medium to large greenish yellow fig with
two crops. High quality.

Dauphine

An excellent purple fig with very large brebas.Medium main crop. Good for cold regions.

Doce

An outstanding medium brownish fig from the Island of
Madeira.

Deanna

A large light greenish fig of high quality.

De Pacheco

A very sweet, top cmmercial, high quality fig with 2 crops from Murcia. Early breba.

Dottato (Kadotta)

A honey fig, medium to large, richly flavored, sweet and ofexcellent quality, especially if the weather is hot. Probably is the most important single fig cultivar grown.

Duamane Nera

A great tasting large, dark fig.

English Brown Turkey( Laradek)

An excellent flavored large fig, very hardy, -28c, from the Czech Republic.

Early White

A medium to large, greeninsh yellow very sweet fig .

Two crops. The earliest to ripe fig is good to plant in pot.

Excel

A medium to large sized yellow fig with amber pulp, very sweet and is highly resistant to splitting. A good , well-adapted tree to grow in Canada. Seems to be very hardy. Superb flavor.

Fannick's Fig

A extra large, blue, fig. Excellent.

Fico Santo

Large round, greenish,red inside,very sweet fig from Italy.
Top quality.

Fioroni Umbrella

A large, long very sweet brownish fig. It has only brebas and ripes in July/August.

Falicciano

A medium to large fig from Italy. Light green.
Very sweet.

Flanders

A richly flavored, amber pulp, heavy bearer,
super fig.

Photo/ Dr. Leon

Fracazzano(Bianco)
A lemon yellow, very sweet outstanding fig from
Italy. Two crops.

Fracazzano Nero

A large, black, superior fig. Outstanding taste.

Fracazzano Sguro

An excellent gren redish fig. Two crops.

Genovese Nero

One of the very best with a special delicate taste and very
juicy, you can almost eat with a spoon. Large to very large
dark purplef fig. It has two crops. Hardy in cold climate,
it is a very good producer and a good pot plant.


Genovese Bianco

A delicious yellowish fig with two crops. High quality.

Gillete

A large yellow, quite sweet and very heavy bearer.
Two crops. The frost never seems to injure the crop.


Ghosh

Gomera
An excellent medium redish brown fig from Gomera
Island. Many brebas.
Gordal
A very large, redish, honey type fig from Spain.
Large Greek Black

Grise Olivette
A very tasty, large, bluish fig from France.
Grise Saint Jean
An excellent dark,small to medium fig. It's a heavy
bearer with 2 crops.
Hardy Chicago
A light redish brown fig with very good flavor.
Very good grower in Canada.
Hollier
A very light green medium to large fig which ripes
even in cold wheather. Sweet and excellent flavor.
Good in cold climate.
Inoral
A medium to large, honey fig from Spain. Very taste.
Inoral Temprana
An early season , medium to large, very sweet(honey)
fig from Spain
Ischia Black
An outstanding, small to medium, black fig.
Isfahan
A small, yellowish brown, very tasty, cold resistant
fig from Iran.
Italiano
A medium purple, pyriform, red flesh, of high quality,
rich and sweet flavored fig.
Jurupa
A huge green fig with excellent flavor. Very vigorous
grower.
Kala Heera/Ghosh
A rare super fig the from middle east.
Karachi Green
A very sweet, early and prolific fig.



Khurtmani (Eseli)
A very large redish, honey fig is probably the best fig
from Israel.

Kori Gol
A heavy bearer, medium to large, white fig. Very good.

King
The best to grow in a north climate like Canada. It's a
super fig medium to large greenish yellow, of high
quality with strawberry pulp. It ripens a large breba
crop between July and August.

K- 6-5
A yellllow redish, super sweet, like jam fig.
K - 7-11
A high quality large greenish yellow fig.
Lampeira
A rare fig from Portugal.
a


Lattarulla (Italian Honey Fig)
A medium, light green fig. Two crops. Second
crop is flavor rich and sweet. Adapts well to container,

Los Lunas
A medium to large green fig. Very good.
LSU Gold(Louisiana University)
A very dependable, huge flat gold fig. Tender
and exceptionally sweet .


LSU Purple
A Very rigorous grower. Red to dark large fig with
excellent flavor and high sugar content. Cold
resistant and a good pot plant.
Mademoiselle de deux Saisons
An excellent, yellow-redish , juicy fig. Good for
colder climate (-13°c). Earlier type with some brebas.
Magnolia
Malta (Sugar Fig)
Small to medium fig with light brown to violet
skin and strawberry pulp. Very cold hardy.
Excellent fig of high quality. Excellent to cultivate in Canada.
Martineca De Cartagena
A large elongated greenish yellow, very sweet fig.
Early in season.
Marylane Seedless
An outstanding seedless white fig with very sweet
and excellent flavor. Rated high quality. It's size
is from medium to large.
Maximino
An excellent purplish black fig with early season
and 2 crops.
Melanzana
A rich flavor, super qality, reddish brown large fig from
Italy. Its tree is very vigorous. the breba first crop is
huge. It ripens early. Good pot plant.


Photo/ Dr. Leon
Longue d'Aout
A medium to large, green(flush violet), good quality, rich in flavor with tow crops. A lot of brebas.Ripes two weeks earlier and is sweeter than Melanzana.

Mollar Blanca
A very sweet and tender white fig with 2 crops and an
early season.
Monstreuse
An excellent, medium to large, green-redish fig.
Two crops.
Moscatel Branco
A medium to large, greenish white fig with very good
honey flavor.
Napolitana Blanca
A medium to large, greenish white fig with very good
honey flavor. Two crops and early producer.
Napolitana Negra
An extra large, black fig well known from Spain with
outstanding flavor.
Native d'Argentieull
An excellent quality, small violet fig.
Negra Murcianna
A very good honey flavored, large black fig.
Negretta
A very sweet, small black fig.
Nero(B.C.)
An excellent bluish black fig.
Neveralla(Archipel)
A large, very sweet, greenish purple to violet brown fig. It's slow growing but tree bears fruit heavily. Breba crop is good.

Northland (Nordland Bergfeige)
A sweet, reddish very rare, cold hardy variety fig
from Switzerland.Excellent for cold climate.
On a protected area, it can stand the temperature
of -10°c to -14°c.
Pajarera
A very sweet, medium fig with great flavor, known as
the bird fig.
Palito
An outstanding large white flat fig from Portugal.
Panachee (Tiger)
A small to medium fig with yellow stripes on the
skin and stem.One of the best tasting figs, with a
berry taste.It's a conversation piece.( I have a tree
with 3 branches with green figs and 3 branches
with yellow and greeenstripes.)
Paneta
A very sweet greeen fig with 2 crops and early
producer.
Paradisa
From Nocerna, Italy. ( No figs yet)Paradiso Bianco
An excellent, cold resistan, juicy green medium
to large fig.


Paradiso Nero
A brownish red medium to large fig. Second crop has excellent flavor. Good pot plant.

Pasquale(Vernino)
A very heavy cropper with small dark purplish
black figs. Delicious, sweet flavor, late to mature. Not hardy.
Pastiliere(Hirta du Japon)
A medium to very large red purple fig from Japan,
good pot plant.
Peter's Honey
A medium, very sweet, lemon yellow fig. Good
tree for growing in a pot.
Petite Negri
A good flavourfull medium to large black fig .Good
to plant in pot.
Petrelli
A very sweet white fig with very large brebas.
Medium main crop. It's the same as San Giovanni but ripes 2
weeks early.
Pezon Largo
A very sweet and early purplish black figs,
elongated , with 2 crops.
Pied de Bouef
A large greenish ti to light brown fig, has
two crops. Early ripe and a lot of breba.
Piedmonte
Pingo de Mel #1
A small greenish fig, high quality, very sweet
honey fig from Portugal.
Pingo de Mel #2
A large to very large white fig, high quality,
honey fig from Portugal.
Pope's
Portuguese East Mountain
An excellent cold resistant, medium black fig
Qila Saif
An outstanding medium large, brownish
mahogany fig.
Qeue Longue
A black fig from Italy.
Ravin de Calce
A black medium fig from France.
Reina de Malaga (Qween of Malaga)
An outstanding, high quality green purplish fig with
2 crops. Early breba.
Rojeta
A very sweet and tasty redish large fig. Very
good brebas and large second crop.
Ronde de Bordeaux
An excellent flavor, small, dark blue fig. Better than
Violette de Bordeaux. Very sweet and cold resistant.
Rusa
A very sweet white fig from Russia. Early breba.
Sal's (Corleone)
A small to medium black fig, good flavor and very
hardy. Good for colder climates.

.San Français
A gray brownish fig with only one crop.
San Giovanni
A very sweet white fig with very large brebas. Medium main crop.

São João Preto
An outstanding flavored large black fig from Portugal. Lots of brebas.
Santa Cruz Dark
A very good, speecial taste, dark large fig. Brebas only.

Schar Amber
A very heavy cropper with large brown figs having very sweet, amber flesh that has proved to be quite hardy up the East Coast. A good pot plant from Israel.


Schar Italian
Its tree produces a fair breba and a large main cropof very large, purple skinned figs with red flesh thatis very sweet tender,
and high quality. Ripens even when leaves fall, from Israel.
Sierra
An improved Calamyrna fig, (does not need
caprification) hybridizedby Dr. Louise Ferguson
from California StateUniversity in Fresno. A
medium to large yellow greenish fig of high quality.
Skardu Dark
A hardy dark fig from Pakistan. Good for cold
climates,-10°c/-14°c
Stella
An outstanding large, green, honey fig.
It's cold resistant.
Sultane
A medium to large good quality black bluish fig. Very
prolific and cold resistant.
Sucre Verte (Queen)
An outstanding medium greenish , honey type fig.
Sucrete(Bifere)
A small green fig of excellent quality.The fruit is not
very aesthetic, but has two crops and is a good pot plant.
Tena(Bifere)
A small to medium green yellowish early fig.
It's very sweet and of high quality.Cold resistance
to -14C degrees.
Ventura
A medium to large flat green fig with excellent
strawberry flavor. It's hardier than most trees. It's
very good in cold climates like Canada.High quality category.

Turca 2
A greenish ,very sweet fig.Early brebas.
UCD143-16
A large long white fig, very tasty and a very
good producer.
Verdal Valenciana
A very sweet green fig. Early breba.
Verdale Longue
A very tasty, green redish, medium to large fig.
Verde Passo
A very sweet greenish blue fig. It's outstanding
when it shrives.
Verdeja
An excellent green fig, Early brebas .
Verdone (Adriatic)
An older cultivar that produces a large, sweet,
rich, green yellow, very fine flavor fig. Two crops
annually. High quality category from Italy.
Vern's Brown Turkey
A good quality, large brown fig.
Verte
A small green fig with excellent flavor from Spain.
One of the best figs to grow in Canada. High quality.
Violette de Bordeaux
A small, super, jet black fig from Spainl,
considered by many to be the very best tasting fig.
It's very hardy, good for cold climates.Two crops.
It's highly productive in pots. Dwarf and prolific.



White Marseilles

Vista Mission
A high quality, large, purplish black fig.
White Texas Everbearing
A medium to large, extraordinary sweet and flavorful
fig. It's very productive and hardy. A seedling that was
discovered in a Celeste fig orchard near Austin Texas.
It's a smudgy-amber colored fig with solid gold pulp.
Wuhan
A unique fig from China with horizontal, weeping growth.
Yokneam
A black fig with 2 crops from Israel.
Zingarella
A high quality fig.
Zuchini
A very sweet, long green fig

Nutritional Value for Figs and Benefits

Quraan Fruits

Figs, a popular fruit in Mediterranean cuisine, particularly Greek, can be eaten dried or fresh. Dried figs are available year-round, and fresh figs are very sweet, with a chewy texture and crunchy, edible seeds. In the United States, California is the main producer of figs, where they are in season from June through September. Figs are high in fiber and rich in certain vitamins and minerals.

Basic Nutrient Values

An 8 oz. portion of fresh figs, or 228.6g, provides 167.8 calories, 1.7g protein, .6g fat, 43.5g carbohydrates, 7.5g dietary fiber and no cholesterol, according to the World's Healthiest Foods.. Figs are a good food source of vitamins B6, K and E, as well as the minerals manganese and potassium.

Vitamins

An 8 oz. portion of fresh figs provides .26mg of vitamin B6 and 10.7 micrograms of vitamin K; meeting approximately 13 percent of the recommended daily value for each. Fresh figs also are a source of vitamin E, providing 2.02mg, or 10 percent of the DV for the same serving. Vitamin B6 is necessary for proper nervous system function, breaking down glycogen, or stored glucose, into energy for the body's cells to use as protein metabolism. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and forming bone, while vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cells from damage.

Minerals

Fresh figs are particularly rich in the trace mineral manganese, offering .29mg, or 14.5 percent of the DV per 8 oz. serving, and the major mineral potassium. The same amount provides just over 526mg potassium, or 15 percent of the DV. Manganese is needed for the proper functioning of certain enzymatic reactions, healthy bones, and the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and cholesterol. Potassium is important for regulating heart beat, blood pressure and ensuring optimal fluid balance in the body.

Dietary Fiber

Few foods are as rich in dietary fiber as figs. An 8 oz. serving meets about a third of your daily requirement. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, dietary fiber offers many health benefits. Fiber-rich diets might help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels and aid in weight management. Those who choose diets rich in fruits and vegetables in the context of a healthy diet are less likely to develop certain types of cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Limitations

Some foods, figs included, contain a naturally occurring substance found in plant foods called oxalates. These substances have the potential, when they become too concentrated in body fluids, of crystallizing and causing health problems, so people with kidney or gallbladder problems might want to avoid figs. In addition, oxalates might interfere with calcium absorption.

Fig fruit nutrition facts

Delicious, sweet fig fruit is one of the prime fruits enjoyed since antiquity in the human history. Fig is naturally rich in much health benefiting phyto-nutrients, anti-oxidants and vitamins. Dried figs, in fact, are concentrated source of minerals and vitamins. The fully ripe fig has bell or pear shape with succulent flesh.

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 an 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, chlorogenic 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 the 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.

Furthermore, 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 source minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and zinc. 100 g of dried figs contain 640 mg of potassium, 162 mg of calcium, 2.03 mg of iron and 232 mg of potassium. Potassium is 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.

Nutritional Benefits Of Figs

Figs are thought to be originally from small Asia and are one of the first fruits cultivated ever.
It is said that humans could live on Figs alone as a source of food -- such is the goodness and nutrition in the fruit!

Figs are a rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium, Vitamin B 6, and potassium. Figs are low in fat and high in fibre. They provide more fiber than any other common fruit or vegetable.
Figs have many health benefits. Fresh and dry figs are high in pectin, a soluble fibre that can reduce blood cholesterol. The fruit is also believed to have a laxative effect and can aid those who suffer from chronic constipation.

Listed below are some common problems and illnesses and how they can be avoided by the use of figs:

Insomnia
Figs contain a nutrient called tryptophan. This promotes good sleep and helps the brain use glucose properly, encouraging and stimulating good circulation.

Memory loss
Figs contain a lot of natural sugar - up to 60%. Sugar stimulate the brain so we can think faster and recall information more quickly. So that you can think more clear and faster. Figs are the ultimate brain fuel!

Fatigue
Fresh Figs contain up to 80% of water, as well as being one of the fruits with the highest levels of natural sugars. So they are a brilliant source of energy and stimulant for the brain. Making you more alert, responsive, fresh, as well as de-toxing the self.

Skin
Due to the Fig's high water content, they are ideal for improving the skin. The skin requires a good level of water. This will clear the skin, act as a cleanser, improve acne, oil, and general well-being.

Constipation
Figs are a natural laxative. So they can aid those suffering from constipation. They have a high level of fibre.

The heart
Due to the Fig's high level of natural sugars, they are an excellent way to replace the bleached (white) sugars with a more healthy alternative. They contain a natural fructose and glucose sugar.
A high fibre diet is one of the best ways to improve cholesterol levels, and as a result aid oneself against heart related diseases insha'Allah.
The nutrient 'tryptophan' contained in Figs encourages good circulation, allowing blood to flow more easily around the body.

Figs contain the ingredient Pectin (and soluble Fibre) which is known for its colesterol lowering effects. Thus, Figs are beneficial for those of Old age, those suffering from High Blood-pressure, Diabetes, heart-disease, hyper-tension, and other such related illnesses.

Calcium
Studies show that 80% of Americans don't consume adequate amounts of calcium daily. (NB: sorry, I could not find the statistics for calcium consumption for those of us that live in the UK! )
The majority of the calcium consumed by those in the US comes from dairy products. However, Figs are another source where much calcium could be obtained. This is also beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant (or even those who chose to be Vegans!).

Five figs provide about 250 mg of the daily recommended level of calcium.

Blood pressure
Figs are beneficial for those with heart-related diseases. Lowering colesterol, they are advantageous for those with high blood pressure.

Figs are a particularly good source of Poatassium. Potassium is a mineral crucial to the control of blood pressure. People who eat potassium-rich foods tend to have lower blood pressure and, subsequently, have less risk of related conditions such as strokes.

Stress
Physical stress results from having high levels of work to do, illnesses, not eating properly, lack of sleep. Emotional stress is triggered from dunya things, such as family woes, work/school troubles and so on. Figs are extreamely nutritious, and over-all an ideal fruit to overcome stresses and anxieties.

Figs are high in calories about 50 calories per fig but are highly nutritious snacks.

Anemia
Figs contain Iron which enriches the blood, and helps to produce it. Thus, they are ideal for women, girls and those suffering from Anemia (lack of Iron).

Digestion
Five figs provide more than 20 percent of the daily recommended allowance of fibre. Hence, they are excellent in aiding digestion and improving the condition of the stomach and bowels.

Hemorrhoids (piles)
Muhammad peace be upon him is recorded to have said to make use of Figs in order to curb Hemorrhoids.

Bones
Figs, with their high level of calcium are ideal for young growing children and for the development of bones. They are also invaluable for those suffering from Osteoporosis and brittle bones.

Weight control
Three figs, fresh or dried, contain about five grams of fibre. The soluble fibre contained in Figs can help people cut down on snacking because it causes nutrients to be absorbed more slowly, making people feel more satisfied after a meal. However, it should be remembered that Figs are high in calories.

The Fig Tree

Quraan Fruits

Introduction

The fig is a modest tree, low and spreading, with irregular, ungraceful branches. The leaves are large, dark-green, deeply lobed. A marked peculiarity of the tree is that it   bears fruit without visible flowers. A little flower-stalk appears, but instead of blossoming at its tip, it is hollow and bears the little flowers on the inside of its tube. The stem swells, grows soft, and becomes a fig. The fig-tree not only bears fruit without visible blossoms, but begins to form its first crop of figs before the leaves appear. The fruit is sweet and nourishing, very full of seeds, and possessing soothing, healing powers. (2 Kings xx. 7; Isa. xxxviii. 21; AE 403)

The fig-tree evidently corresponds to a knowledge of good, sweet works of kindness. But contrasted with the olive, the fig is the less noble tree. It is not so large, nor evergreen like the olive, nor so long-lived, nor are its fruits useful in so many ways. The olive represents the knowledge of the Lord's goodness and of how to bring forth His love in good works. The fig represents a knowledge of natural kindness, which not rising to the noble character of the olive, still obediently bears abundant fruits of sweet benevolence. (AC 4231; AE 403)

What is the meaning of the fact that the figs are borne without visible blossoms, and even before the leaves? Leaves are the intelligent thought preparatory to the use which is represented by the fruit. Flowers are the special thoughts connected with each good work, including the happiest of all thoughts, that we are helping to accomplish some purpose of the Lord's love and wisdom. The natural kind works which the figs represent are done without these leaves and flowers, with little forethought or discretion; they are impulsive and unintelligent; moreover they seem to be one's own and are without the happy sense of serving the Lord.

Once more, contrasting the fig with the olive, why has the olive one large seed and the fig many little seeds? The many seeds suggest the contagiousness of natural kindness; one kind work calls forth a thousand more. But does not the single seed point to the single principle that God is good, from which the spiritual olive grows, while the many seeds of the fig suggest the thousand forms in which the duty of natural kindness appeals to us in the varied relations of life?

Before we turn to see how the fig is used in the parables of the Word, let us notice a relation between the olive, the vine, and the fig. The olive is knowledge of good works inspired by a sense of the Lord's goodness; the vine is the faculty of perceiving the Lord's wisdom and of expressing it in life; the fig is a knowledge of good works done in natural kindness and obedience. The three are related like the three planes of heavenly life: celestial, spiritual, and natural. (HH 31; TCR 609; AC 9277; AE 403, 638) Compare the relation of sheep, goats, and cattle, Chapter 13)

Canaan was called "a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive and honey." (Deut. viii. 8) The knowledge of external goodness and kindness, the spiritual intelligence, and the knowledge of the Lord's goodness, which belong to the heavenly life, are represented by the three trees which we have studied. (AE 619, 403) "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat." (Habakkuk iii. 17) It pictures a time when spiritual life languishes; when there is a lack of good life in each of its three forms. "Yet will I rejoice in the Lord." (AE 403; AC 9277)

Read Jotham's parable: "The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive-tree said, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon." (Judges ix. 8-15) The parable was spoken to the men of Shechem, who had allowed no heavenly spirit, but a selfish, cruel one, to rule them. It shows also how it is the nature of every heavenly principle to serve, each in its own way, with no wish to rule over others. The bramble represents the intelligence busy not with good uses, and thoughts preparing for them, but with selfish scheming, with hard, cruel, cutting thoughts of others. "The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches " (Matt. xiii. 22) , are the thorns which choke the growth of plants of usefulness. And these are glad to rule over others. (AE 638.; AC 9277)

"Beware of false prophets . . . ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matt. vii. 15, 16) We remember that "prophets," in an impersonal sense, are truths, or what claim to be truths; and we are to judge them by the life to which they lead. Can selfish scheming lead to works of wise, heavenly charity? or to works full of sweet natural kindness? Such works can never grow from false and selfish principles with their spiteful, cruel thoughts. (AE 403; AC 5117) Of the peaceful days of Solomon it is said that "Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree." (I Kings iv. 25) And again, "In the last days . . . they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid." (Micah iv. 1, 4) These are beautiful pictures of peace and domestic happiness. They tell also of a state of spiritual peace, when temptations shall cease, when the mind shall be busy with plans for works of spiritual wisdom and of natural kindness, and shall find in these protection against the intrusion of evil feelings and false thoughts. (AE 403; AC 5113) The Lord said of Nathanael, who was to become one of the apostles, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." (John i. 47, 48) We know that the apostles represented all classes of men who can become followers of the Lord, or all the elements of His church in any heart. What does it tell of Nathanael's character; and of the element in us all which he represents, that he was "under the fig-tree " when called to follow the Lord? (AE 866)

"He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." (Luke xiii. 6-q) Already we have found the vineyard used as representative of the Lord's church, especially of its spiritual intelligence. Here we read of "a fig-tree planted in the vineyard." It means the church's knowledge of what is kind and good in outward life, which the Lord desires should bear fruits of natural kindness. How often does the Lord come seeking this fruit, but finds none! How little such fruit there was in the Jewish Church at His coming! The pleading of the dresser of the vineyard to give the tree another chance, pictures the Lord's own solicitude that His church, and every one, be given every possible opportunity to bear the fruit of good, kind works. (AE 403. Compare Abraham's entreaty for Sodom. Gen. xviii. 23-33)

As the Lord with His disciples passed over the Mount of Olives from Bethany to Jerusalem, "he was hungry: and seeing a fig-tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. . . . And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots." (Mark xi. 12-14, 20) Once more the fig-tree is a type of the church or of each man's heart. What is meant by its bearing leaves but no fruit? It means that there is abundant knowledge of what is good and kind; that we perhaps go so far as to think about doing kind works, but do not do them. How barren was the Jewish Church of good, kind works, in spite of the sacred law of which they were proud! How little of such fruit the Lord finds today, in spite of still fuller teaching of good life! Take warning! Knowledge which is held in this idle way, sooner or later - in the other world if not in this - will wither away and the ability to enjoy doing works of kindness will be gone forever. That "the time of figs was not yet," suggests that a time is at hand when good, kind works will abound. (AE 386, 403, 109; AC 885)

"And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." (Luke xxi. 29-31) The budding of the trees, especially of the fig-tree, is promised as a sign of the Lord's second coming. Is not the promise fulfilled today in the wonderful growth of useful knowledge of every kind? and especially in the great development of natural charity and benevolence? (AE 403)

When the end of an old church and the beginning of a new church is at hand, then is the Last Judgment. This is the time that is meant in the Word by the "Last Judgement" (n. 2117-2133, 3353, 4057), and also by the "coming of the Son of man."  It is this very Coming that is now the subject before us, as referred to in the question addressed to the Lord by the disciples:--   

Tell us when shall these things he, especially what is the sign of Thy coming, and of the consummation of the age (Matt. 24:3)?   

It remains therefore to unfold the things predicted by the Lord concerning this very time of His Coming and of the Consummation of the age which is the Last Judgment; but in the preface to this chapter only those contained in Matthew:--   

Now learn a parable from the fig-tree.  When her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh.  So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away (Matthew 24:32-35).   

The internal sense of these words is as follows.   

Now learn a parable from the fig-tree. When her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; signifies the first of a new church; the "fig-tree" is the good of the natural; her "branch" is the affection of this; and the 'leaves" are truths.  The "parable from which they should learn" is that these things are signified.  He who is not acquainted with the internal sense of the Word, cannot possibly know what is involved in the comparison of the Lord's coming to a fig-tree and its branch and leaves; but as all the comparisons in the Word are also significant (n. 3579), it may be known from this signification what is meant.  A "fig-tree" wherever mentioned in the Word signifies in the internal sense the good of the natural (n. 217); that her "branch" is the affection of this, is because affection springs forth from good as a branch from its trunk; and that "leaves" are truths may be seen above (n. 885).  From all this it is now evident what the parable involves, namely, that when a new church is being created by the Lord, there then appears first of all the good of the natural, that is, good in the external form together with its affection and truths. By the good of the natural is not meant the good into which man is born, or which he derives from his parents, but a good which is spiritual in respect to its origin.  Into this no one is born, but is led into it by the Lord through the knowledge of good and truth. Therefore until a man is in this good (that is, in spiritual good), he is not a man of the church, however much from a good that is born with him he may appear to be so.   
 So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is nigh, even at the doors signifies that when those things appear which are signified in the internal sense by the words spoken in (Matt. 24:29-31), and by these concerning the fig-tree, then it is the consummation of the church, that is, the Last Judgment, and the Coming of the Lord; consequently that the old church is then being rejected, and a new one is being set up. It is said, "at the doors," because the good of the natural and its truths are the first things which are insinuated into a man when he is being regenerated and is becoming the church. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished; signifies that the Jewish nation shall not be extirpated like other nations, for the reason shown above (n. 3479).   
 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away; signifies that the internals and the externals of the former church would perish, but that the Word of the Lord would abide. "Heaven" is the internal of the church, and "earth" its external, (n. 82, 1411, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355). By the Lord"s "words" are plainly meant not only these now spoken respecting His coming and the consummation of the age, but also all that are in the Word. These words were said immediately after what was said about the Jewish nation, because that nation was preserved for the sake of the Word, as may be seen from the number already cited (n. 3479). From all this it is now evident that the beginnings of a New Church are here foretold. [AC 4231]

That a "leaf" signifies truth, is evident from many passages in the Word where man is compared to a tree, or is called a tree, and where "fruits" signify the good of charity, and a "leaf" the truth therefrom (which indeed they are like); as in Ezekiel:--

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, there cometh up every tree for food, whose leaf doth not fall, neither is the fruit consumed, it is reborn every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for medicine (Ezekiel 47:12; Rev. 22:2).

Here "tree" denotes the man of the church in whom is the kingdom of the Lord; its "fruit," the good of love and of charity; its "leaf," the truths therefrom, which serve for the instruction of the human race and for their regeneration, for which reason the leaf is said to be for "medicine." Again:--

Shall He not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof that it wither" it shall wither in all the plucked off (leaves) of its shoot (Ezekiel 17:9).

This is said of the vine, that is, the church, in a state of vastation, whose good, which is the "fruit," and whose truth, which is the "plucked off (leaf) of the shoot," thus withers.
 In Jeremiah:--

Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah; he shall be like a tree planted by the waters; his leaf shall be green; and he shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:7, 8);

where the "green leaf" denotes the truth of faith, thus the very faith which is from charity. So in (Ps. 1:3); and again in Jeremiah:--

There shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf is fallen (Jeremiah 8:13);

"grapes on the vine," denote spiritual good; "figs on the fig-tree," natural good; "leaf," truth, which in this case is "fallen." Likewise in (Isaiah 34:4). The same is meant by the fig-tree which Jesus saw and found nothing thereon but leaves, and which therefore withered away (Matt. 21:19, 20; Mark 11:13, 14, 20). Specifically, by this fig-tree there was meant the Jewish Church, in which there was no longer anything of natural good; and the religious teaching or truth that was preserved in it, are the "leaves;" for a vastated church is such that it knows truth, but is not willing to understand it. Similar are those who say that they know truth or the things of faith, yet have nothing of the good of charity: they are only fig-leaves, and they wither away. [AC 885]

Origins and History of Fig Trees

Historical information of fig trees including the Black Mission fig tree

he fig tree, 'Ficus carica,' possibly originated in Northern Asia according to archeological fossil records. Spanish missionaries brought it to the United States in 1520. Historical Sumerian tablets record the use and consumption of figs in 2500 BC.

 In Greek mythology, the fig figures prominently as a gift of Demeter to Dionysus and as having received the blessing and sanctity of the Greek Gods. Plato documented that Greek athletes at Olympia were fed diets of figs to increase their running speed and overall strength. The figs contained up to 50% concentration of sugar which was virtually like feeding the athlete a candy bar.

 The most famous Biblical reference to figs is that, in which Jesus cursed a fig tree for not producing any fruit for him as he passed by, a curse that killed the fig tree, Matt 21:18

 The Jewish King, Hezekiah, was cured of a life-threatening plague by applying figs to the infected spot. 2 Kings 20 The Apostle, James, brother of Jesus, used the metaphor of the fig tree to describe the appropriate behavior that he expected to follow from Christian living. James 3:12 Fig leaves were used in the early church to hide the genitalia of nude, marble sculptures that adorned religious buildings. Fig trees were also used in ancient history as shade trees and to chop and use as quick start firewood.

 Cooked figs were used as sweeteners in ancient times and this practice is still used in many third world countries in Asia Minor. The figs contain over 50% sugar. Hybrid figs contain many hollow, tiny seeds on the interior of the fruit, similar in taste as those found in blueberries and strawberries. A fig fruit has a round tiny opening at the base of the fig called an 'eye.' A tiny wasp flies into the interior of the fig and pollinates the tiny flowers lining the interior walls of the fig. These tiny seed are not generally digested by the stomach and offer a great laxative effect to the elderly sedentary citizens. American hybrid figs do not require or receive pollination to be transformed into edible fruit.

 Fig trees in Europe can grow to a tremendous height of 100 feet, but the fruit is very difficult to harvest when the tree grows taller than 10 feet.

 In harvesting the figs, it is important to pick the fruit from the tree, when it is completely mature--usually when it sags, droops, and changes color. If the figs are taken from the tree prematurely, the sweetness declines, but more importantly, if the figs are removed in the juvenile developing state, a white milky fluid exudes from the stem, which is transferred to a person's hands and then eyes or mouth, the fluid is very irritating and should be washed away as quickly as possible.

 One of the most famous figs in the United States is the "Black Mission" fig tree, which was named after the California, Franciscan mission that dates back to 1770, when it was planted there and cultivated on a commercial scale.

 Perhaps the most famous product of figs is the fig newton that uses dried figs placed between curved, sweet wafers and distributed by Nabisco. In Europe, figs are gathered from commercial fig tree orchards where they are sized, graded, and packed to sell as fresh fruit at local markets. Figs are easily dried after harvesting from the trees, and various brands are popularly sold throughout the world, because of their extended shelf life in the United States, California is the largest producer of figs and most of them are marketed as dried figs. In the South figs are boiled in sugar liquid, sometimes adding strawberries and the resulting fig preserves are eaten during the fall and winter months as fig preserves on hot buttered biscuits. The trees grow into picturesque specimens in many landscapes. The trunks are often whitewashed when young in order to keep the sun from scalding the tender bark. The roots are vigorous growers and will grow far away from the canopy; however, trimming these roots does not damage the tree.

 Fig trees grown in full sun have soft wood that break easily. The trees easily grow to 100 feet in Europe but usually less than 30 feet in the United States. Fertilizing fig trees on most soils is unnecessary and unwise, because nitrogen fertilizer tends to promote aggressive branch growth and will reduce the size of the crop. If too much nitrogen is applied, the fruit does not mature properly and the fruit has an off taste.

 The first crop of figs that matures in the spring is called the "breba" crop and the next and tastiest crop matures in the fall. Figs are harvested from the trees from June till October, although some new cultivars will be ready for eating in April. The shelf life for freshly picked figs is short and fig generally last only about three days in refrigeration. A fig should not be picked from a tree, if it is over ripe or mushy, since it will begin souring from fermentation. At this point figs will lose their roundness and begin to collapse inward. When a fig is harvested from a tree, it should be soft to the touch and a very firm fig will not ripen properly, if it is picked at this immature stage.

 The beautiful leaves of the fig tree are used to make an odd scented perfume with the aroma of wood or musk. The white, milky latex from the tree can be used as a meat tenderizer or in making cheese, if the latex is dried and powdered. Figs can be frozen whole or sliced in plastic bags or jars and expected to last satisfactorily for one year. Dried figs can be soaked in warm water to restore their shape and softness. Fruit of figs is high in iron, calcium, potassium, and fiber, and they are used as a diuretic and a laxative.

 Figs contain protein digesting enzymes and can be used as a meat tenderizer and a taste enhancer. Dried figs are often used to substitute for recipes calling for dried apricots, dates, or prunes.

 Fig trees are considered to be about as cold hardy as citrus; however, recent hybrid cultivars show that fig trees can survive temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit for limited periods of time, and if the tree freezes to the ground, the new shoots will sprout in the spring to rapidly renew the fig tree.