fig

THE FIG: A FRUIT WHOSE PERFECTION HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN REVEALED
[I swear] by the fig and the olive. (Qur'an, 95:1)
The reference to the fig in the first verse of Surat at-Tin is a
most wise one in terms of the benefits imparted by this fruit.
The Benefits of the Fig for Human Beings
Figs have a higher fibre level than any other fruit or vegetable.
One single dried fig provides two grams of fibre: 20% of the daily
recommended intake. Research over the last fifteen years or so has
revealed that the fibre in plant foods is very important for the
regular functioning of the digestive system. It is known that fibre
in foods assists the digestive system and also helps reduce the risk
of some forms of cancer. Nutritionists describe eating figs, which
are rich in fibre, as an ideal way of increasing one's fibre intake.

Fibrous foodstuffs are divided into two types: soluble and
insoluble. Foods rich in insoluble fibre facilitate the passage of
substances to be expelled from the body through the intestine by
adding water to them. They thus accelerate the digestive system and
ensure its regular functioning. It has also been established that
foods containing insoluble fibre have a protective effect against
colon cancer. Foods rich in soluble fibre, on the other hand, have
been shown to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood by more than
20%. These are therefore of the greatest importance in reducing the
risk of heart attack. Excessive levels of cholesterol in the blood
collect in the arteries, hardening and narrowing them. Depending on
which organ's blood vessels the cholesterol accumulates in,
disorders connected to that organ arise. For example, if cholesterol
accumulates in the arteries that feed the heart, problems such as
heart attacks result. Accumulations of cholesterol in the kidney
veins can lead to high blood pressure and kidney deficiency.
Furthermore, the intake of soluble fibre is important in terms of
regulating blood sugar by emptying the stomach because sudden
changes in blood sugar can lead to life-threatening disorders.
Indeed, societies with fibre-rich diets have been shown to have far
lower incidences of illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.117
It is also another major health advantage for soluble and insoluble
fibres to be present at one and the same time. It has been shown
that when both forms are present together, they are much more
effective in preventing cancer than when they are on their own. The
presence of both forms of fibre, soluble and insoluble, in the fig
makes it a most important foodstuff in this regard.118
Dr. Oliver Alabaster, Director of the Institute for Disease
Prevention at the George Washington University Medical Centre,
refers to figs in these terms:
… [H]ere is an opportunity to add a really healthy, high fiber
food to your diet. Choosing figs and other high fiber foods more
frequently means that you'll naturally choose potentially harmful
foods less frequently-and this is great for your lifelong
health.119
According to the California Fig Advisory Board, it is believed that
the antioxidants in fruit and vegetables protect against a number of
diseases. Antioxidants neutralise harmful substances (free radicals)
that arise as a result of chemical reactions in the body or else are
taken in from the outside and thus prevent the destruction of cells.
In one study performed by the University of Scranton, it was
determined that dried figs had a much higher level of the phenol
makeup, which is rich in antioxidants, than other fruits. Phenol is
used as an antiseptic to kill micro-organisms. The level of phenol
in figs is much higher than that in other fruits and vegetables.120
Another study, by Rutgers University in New Jersey, revealed that
due to the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 and phytosterol
contained in dried figs, they can play a considerable part in
reducing cholesterol.121 It is known that omega-3 and omega-6 cannot
be manufactured in the body and need to be absorbed with food.
Furthermore, these fatty acids are indispensable to the proper
functioning of the heart, brain and nervous system. Phytosterol
permits the cholesterol in animal products, which has the potential
to harden the heart's arteries, to be expelled from the body without
entering the blood stream.
Despite being one of the oldest fruits known to man, the
fig-described as "nature's most nearly perfect fruit" by the
California Fig Advisory Board 122-has been rediscovered by food
producers. The nutritional value of this fruit and its health
benefits have led to its acquiring a whole new importance.
The fig can constitute a part of just about any special diet. Since
figs do not naturally contain fat, sodium or cholesterol but have
high levels of fibre, they are an ideal food for those trying to
lose weight. At the same time, figs have higher mineral contents
than any other known fruit. Forty grams of figs contains 244 mg of
potassium (7% of the daily requirement), 53 mg of calcium (6% of the
daily requirement) and 1.2 mg of iron (6% of the daily
requirement).123 The calcium level in figs is very high: The fig
ranks second after the orange in terms of calcium content. A crate
of dried figs provides the same level of calcium as a crate of milk.

Figs are also thought of as a medicine which gives strength and
energy to long-term patients as they seek to recover. They eliminate
physical and mental difficulties and give the body strength and
energy. The most important nutritional component of figs is sugar,
which comprises 51-74% of all fruits. The sugar level in figs is one
of the highest. Figs are also recommended in the treatment of
asthma, coughs and chills.
The benefits we have restricted ourselves to mentioning here are an
indication of the compassion Allah feels for human beings. Our Lord
provides the substances required by human beings in this fruit,
which is so pleasant to eat, already packaged and at the ideal
levels for human health. The way that this special blessing from
Allah is mentioned in the Qur'an may indicate the importance of the
fig for human beings. (Allah knows best.) From the point of view of
human health, the nutritional value of the fig was only established
with the advance of medicine and technology. This is another
indication that the Qur'an is indisputably the Word of Allah, the
Omniscient.
Fresh Fig Nutritional Value
(100 grams) Dried Fig Nutritional Value
(100 grams)
Calories (kcal) 74Calories (kcal) 249
Fibre (g) 3Fibre (g) 10
Fat (g) 0Fat (g) 1
Protein (g) 1Protein (g) 3
Sugar (g) 16Sugar (g) 48
Vitamin A (IU) 142Vitamin A (IU) 10
Vitamin C (mg) 2Vitamin C (mg) 1.2
Vitamin B1 0.1Vitamin B1 0.1
Vitamin B2 0.1Vitamin B2 0.1
Vitamin B6 0.1Vitamin B6 0.1
Sodium 1Sodium 10
Potassium 232Potassium 680
Calcium 35Calcium 162
Phosphorus 232Phosphorus 67
Magnesium 17Magnesium 68
Iron 0.4Iron 3.07
Manganese 0.1Manganese 0.8
Copper 0.1Copper 0.3
Selenium 0.2Selenium 0.6
Zinc 0.2Zinc 0.5

source from miracles of the qur'an