With their syrupy sweet taste, chewy texture and impressive nutrient profile brimming with polyphenols and fiber, enriched dried figs offer a guilt-free way to satisfy cravings as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. This expansive guide dives into everything from dried figs’ surprising weight loss benefits and optimal serving sizes to their incredible advantages for women’s and men’s health specifically.

Are Dried Figs Good For Weight Loss?

Many dried fruits pack hefty calorie and natural sugar totals attainable amounts making fruit-filled weight loss a challenge. However, emerging research shows figs’ stellar nutrition and satiating fiber may uniquely support dropping pounds. Let’s analyze the evidence.

1. Low Energy Density Aids Weight Management: Despite a reputation earned by other high sugar dried fruits, figs contain low energy density with fewer calories per bite compared to many snacks thanks to their fiber and water content. One study discovered people naturally eat less total calories when served lower energy density foods filled up on figs’ satisfying sweetness and bulk. Their intense sweetness serves as a treat, curbing desire to overindulge in other sweets.
2. Increases Satiety Through Fiber & Polyphenols: Dried figs contain approximately 10% soluble fiber. This dissolves in water to form a viscous gel prolonging stomach emptying keeping you fuller longer on less. Population data indicates fig eaters possess healthier average weights and easier weight maintenance partly attributable to figs’ satiating capacities. Figs also contain pectin shown to trigger release of the satiety hormones peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide 1 so your brain receives “full” signals sooner after eating.
3. Stabilizes Blood Sugar Preventing Crashes: Despite their sweetness, dried figs rate low to medium on the glycemic index thanks to their fiber content. Rather than causing blood sugar spikes and crashes promoting ravenous hunger and cravings like candy or cookies, figs provide a steady release of glucose with smaller fluctuations. Their effect stabilizing insulin activity assists easier weight management long-term for many.

How Many Dried Figs Per Day For Weight Loss?

Most experts recommend limiting general dried fruit intake to about 1.5 ounces or 1 small handful per day for weight loss. This equals around 3 medium-sized dried figs. Luckily, their highly satiating fiber and polyphenols give the feeling of a larger serving which helps with portion control tendency. Let your hunger and fullness signals guide fig quantities, enjoying them to curb sweet cravings rather than binging. So long as your daily caloric goals are met, figs can create the perfect bite-sized sweet ending to meals.
For those with greater caloric allotments, enjoying 5-6 dried figs broken into a few mini snacks several times daily likely poses no problems. Just be sure to account for their roughly 50 calories, 12 grams carbohydrate and 10 grams sugar per medium fig when tracking your total daily intake.

Dried Figs Benefits For Females

Beyond general nutrition pluses, emerging research spotlights the power-packed phytoestrogens, flavonoids and antioxidants within dried figs providing unique health advantages for women. Let’s analyze the exciting evidence-based benefits.

1. Relieves PMS & Menstrual Discomfort: One study gave women fig jam for 2 menstrual cycles. The fig group experienced significant reductions in PMS symptoms like fatigue, headaches, mood swings, irritability and bloating than the control group. Researchers contribute figs’ hormonal benefits to their high antioxidant content and phytoestrogens able to alleviate cycle-related issues.
2. Increases Fertility: Animal research reveals fig extracts boost reproductive hormone function, follicle health and ovulation rates in females. The flavonoids in figs appear to enhance ovarian function and uterine lining development creating optimal conditions for conceiving. Human trials are still needed but look promising for improving female fertility factors.
3. Protects Post-Menopause Heart Health: Heart disease continues rising as women’s greatest health threat with risk escalating after menopause. Heart-protective data proves women consuming more figs and other estrogen-containing foods significantly reduced hazardous LDL cholesterol oxidation following menopause whereas non-consumers’ oxidation increased. Phytoestrogens in figs likely supply the cardioprotective antioxidant activity lowering cardiovascular risk.
4. Slows Signs of Skin Aging: As skin loses collagen, elastin and moisture during perimenopause, annoying wrinkles and dullness appear. But figs’ antioxidant and phytoestrogen concentrations help combat aging oxidative skin damage preserving a youthful appearance. Applying fig leaf facials and fig oil nourishes mature skin.

Dried Figs Advantages For Males

Beyond general nutrition perks, what unique dried fig benefits might interest men? From virility to vigor, figs have a traditional reputation as an arousal booster for men. And science supports key gender-specific benefits.

1. Enhances Male Sexuality & Fertility: Traditional medicine systems utilize figs as sexual tonics for low libido and infertility with modern research validating their historical use. Animal trials show fig extracts correct testosterone deficiency, strengthen arousal, enhance sperm health parameters and combat infertility in ways comparable to some prescription drugs with humans studies underway.
2. Boosts Testosterone Naturally: The carotenoid compounds lutein and zeaxanthin abundant in dried figs stimulate testosterone production while lowering estrogen levels in animal research. More human data is needed. But figs’ nutritional support for the HPA axis and antioxidant protection against testicular tissue oxidative stress already back their potential for optimizing T status.
3. Prevents Prostate Issues: Dried fig phytochemicals restrain enzymes implicated in triggering prostate enlargement. Their anti-inflammatory, hormone-regulating flavonoids and carotenoids also protect prostate health. According to cell studies, fig components inhibited human prostate cancer cell proliferation by over 90% evidencing remarkable chemopreventative effects.

1 Small Dried Fig Calories & Carbs Count

Wondering how a single tiny fig impacts daily nutrition quotas? Here’s what one small dried black Mission fig delivers:

• Calories: 30
• Total Carbohydrates: 8 grams
• Sugars: 6 grams
• Dietary Fiber: 1 gram
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fat: 0 grams

Vitamin K: 2% Daily Value

• Potassium: 2% DV
• Copper: 2% DV
• Vitamin B6: 2% DV
• Magnesium: 2% DV

So one petite fig counts just 30 calories composed almost entirely of 8 grams complex carbohydrate with 6 grams deriving from natural fruit sugars. But their 1 gram dietary fiber helps slow sugar absorption preventing an insulin spike. Meanwhile you accrue 2% DV for five essential nutrients making every delicious fig bite count nutritionally!

The Sweet Truth Behind Dried Fig Nutritional Power

Dried figs happen to be one of the most satiating, nutritionally-packed high fiber fruits you can eat thanks to their unusual density of polyphenols, antioxidants, pectin, flavonoids and carotenoids. Their unique nutritional and phytochemical profile translates into tangible benefits from weight control assistance to optimizing female hormone balance and male sexual health. So reap figs’ wellness perks by integrating just a few sweet, chewy dried figs into your balanced daily diet.