Hello Healthy Peeps!
This short post is simply to pay tribute to my favie fruit of ALL time… FIGS! đ
I was pleasantly surprised when a dear friend told me that our local market had in its first supply of fresh black mission figs earlier this week! I devoured enjoyed them, and of course, needed to purchase some more as soon as I could. (Darn near killed me that the store is closed on Mondays!) … Anyhoo, I picked up a few pints today, and oh my goodness, are they delectable! It is still a little early for figs, so to say that this is a special treat for yours truly is QUITE an understatement! I personally think that God must’ve known that I needed a little pick-me-up in the midst of a very hectic time (My brother’s wedding is this Saturday!!). I’m convinved that he ripened these puppies a little early just for me! (Insert: Happy Fig Dance!  Yes. I really do that. It’s a sight.)
Sooo, what’s so great about a fig, you ask? Many people have never tasted or even seen a fresh fig in their lives (Tragic, I tell you). The typical consumption of figs is most often reduced down to eating them in the form of a Fig Newton (Delicious in their own right, no doubt, but NOTHING compared to a perfectly ripe, amazingly sweet fresh ripe fig. Mmmmmm!)
Perfection.
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FANTASTIC FIGULAR FACTS:
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Figs are rich in vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
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Figs are very alkalizing, contributing to a balanced body homeostasis.
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Figs contain benzaldehyde, a copound shown to shrink tumors.
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Figs contain ficin, a sulfur compound which helps reduce joint pain and tissue inflammation.
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Figs are antibacterial, and known to be a neutralizer of toxins!
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Figs are said to improve liver function, and have an affinity for helping to aid in maladies concerning the stomach, spleen, and pancreas.
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Figs have been known to therapeutically help treat conditions like asthma, arthritis, low blood pressure (that’s me!), cancer, colitis, constipation, gout, rheumatism, sore throat, and ulcers.
Not too shabby, eh?Â
A few things to remember about purchasing fresh figs…If you buy them when they are hard, they will stay that way. You must choose figs that are already soft or getting soft. I love ALL varieties of figs and do not discriminate, however if I had to choose a favorite for texture and flavor, it would be the black mission variety (pictured above). It seems like I always make a new friend when I’m buying figs! People are often nervous to try something they haven’t seen or eaten before, but I guess when they see me buying them in figgy bulk (Think like 6-8 containers at a time in fig season…) they become curious. And believe me, I’m always happy to share the deliciousness! đ
I hope you all try some new and exciting summer fruits this season, as they are starting to sprout up all over the place! You will not be disappointed!
Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend ahead!
⤠Lisa
