A “Powerhouse” of Nutrition

We are continually discovering that ……..

Dried Turkish figs…..my new found nutritious love!

We were recently over our friend’s house where I tried dried organic Turkish figs that my friend’s mom had brought over from a family fig tree. I really enjoy fig jam on pizza and cheese but I hadn’t actually eaten a dry fig before. I was a little hesitant because I am not all that big of a raisin fan. My girlfriend made me try it like she eats it……………and I was like WOW!

We used all of their figs they had in a recipe we were making………..which is coming soon in a blog so I went out to search for some dried Turkish figs.

I also never understood how nutritious figs were and how much they are eaten in the Mediterranean diet. Figs are held in high regard as part of an authentic Mediterranean diet and are a major contributor to the low levels of cholesterol that people living in the Mediterranean region enjoy. They are rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols, the same substance found in grapes or wine …..love red wine!

According to LIVESTRONG — a serving of brown Turkish figs is two large figs and contains approximately 95 calories. Those calories are primarily carbohydrates….not fat. And they hold no saturated fat at all. Figs have no fat and no cholesterol! ……. However, they do have a lot of soluble fiber, the kind that helps lower LDL cholesterol, the bad one. Figs contain high amounts of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals are three essential minerals necessary for the health of our heart. By their mineral contribution, figs can help lower high blood pressure.

This new love put me on a quest to find more……….and I found some great ones at nuts.com!

You can eat dried figs many different ways. My favorite is with cheese and crackers….but that is high in calories and fat…..so, limit that. The best healthiest way is to tear off the stem and peel it open and put a walnut in the middle and close it back up! And there you have your perfectly healthy snack that is so tasty and so good for you!

then….take a bite

Cheers to red wine and figs   Bon Appetit!