Heaven’s Fruit: Fig

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
​– Aristotle

​Fruit has been used for surviving through hunger in past. It’s one of the oldest forms of food that are known to man. Not only are they satisfying but they also have nutritional content. They not only reduce the risk of diseases but prevent them as well. 

​Ficus carica commonly known as fig, member of Moraceae family, is one of the sweetest fruits used worldwide. Phytochemical studies on the plant have shown that they are rich in phenolics, organic acids, and volatile compounds. Figs are used as an excellent source of minerals (calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc), vitamins (vitamin A, E, and K), carbohydrates, and dietary fiber because it is fat and cholesterol free and contain high number of amino acids. Fig has been used traditionally to treat various ailments such as gastric problems, inflammation, and cancer.

​In the Quran, Allah mentioned different fruits which seem to have countless benefits for mankind. If those fruits are added to daily diet, they can prove to be beneficial and fig is one of them. In the first Quranic verses in sura at Teen, the medicinal advantages of the fig are discussed, the Quran says: 

"I swear by the Fig and the Olive”. (95:1)

​Hadith literatures also provide us an incident related to the fig:

According to Abu Darda, someone presented figs to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and he began distributing it among his followers. He said: “Eat it as it cures various diseases”.

​As it seems that fig is a Heaven’s fruit that Allah bestowed us with, so that we can benefit from it. It has been traditionally used for its medicinal benefits as metabolic, expectorant, and diuretic, cardiovascular, respiratory, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory remedy. It treats different disorders such as gastrointestinal (colic, indigestion, loss of appetite, and diarrhea), respiratory (sore throats, cough, and bronchial problems), inflammatory (swellings, tumors), degenerative diseases, infections, epilepsy, piles, obstruction of liver, and spleen related diseases. 

​Figs are ideal for those trying to lose weight. It contains the digestive enzymes for all the three components of diet (proteins, carbohydrates, and fat). It benefits pregnant and nursing women, helps in reducing acidity, rheumatism and helps the brain. It treats pimples, skin pigmentation, remove bad breath, dryness of mouth, and whitens the teeth. 

​Figs are also thought of as a fruit that gives strength and energy to long-term patients as they seek to recover. Due to its high alkalinity, it has been beneficial to people who wish to quit smoking. The fruit’s juice of F. carica mixed with honey is used for hemorrhage. The dry fruit of it is a supplement food for diabetics.

​Figs could be used as a complete diet. One fig contains:

• 30 Calories
• 0.1g Fat
• 0.4mg Sodium
  
• 7.7g Carbohydrates (3% of RDI)
  
• 1.2g Dietary Fiber (5 % of the RDI)
  
• 0.3g Protein (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Vitamin A (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Vitamin C (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Calcium (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Manganese (3 % of the RDI)
  
• Vitamin B6 (2 % of the RDI)
  
• Iron (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Niacin (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Pantothenic Acid (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Riboflavin (1 % of the RDI)
  
• Thiamine (2 % of the RDI)
  
• Magnesium (2 % of the RDI)
  
• Phosphorus (2 % of the RDI)

​Fig benefits almost organ in the body. Its truly is a Heaven’s fruit, which has limitless usefulness for human beings. 
​

References:
Farhangi, H., Ajilian, M., Saeidi, M., Khodaei, G. (2014). Medicinal Fruits in Holy Quran. International Journal of Pediatrics, 2(3.2), 89-102. doi: 10.22038/ijp.2014.3461
Shukranul Mawa, Khairana Husain, Ibrahim Jantan, "Ficus carica L. (Moraceae): Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Biological Activities", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 974256, 8 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/974256

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​BLUE LUNAR
Hafsa Bibi,
​Pharm D, 8th Semester