Anjeer or fig is a fruit that belongs to the mulberry family. It comes with soft skin and multiple seeds.
The fruit is extremely sweet and you can consume it either ripe or dried. The fig tree is commonly found in Asia. Due to its high natural sugar content, anjeer is also known as nature’s candy.
There are different varieties of this fruit such as black mission figs, sierra figs, brown turkey, and Kadota figs, etc. You can get the dried form of anjeer almost everywhere all over the year.
Anjeer is extremely nutritious, particularly in its dried form. A study published in the American College of Nutrition states that the fruit is a good source of phenol antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients.
Read on to explore more about the benefits of anjeer, uses, and possible side effects.
Anjeer: Nutritional Profile
Anjeer is a good source of fiber, manganese, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, a 100g of figs contain the following amount of nutrients:
- Energy: 74 kcal
- Protein: 0.75 g
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrate: 19.18 g
- Fiber: 2.9 g
- Sugars: 16.26 g
- Iron: 0.37 mg
- Calcium: 35 mg
- Magnesium: 17 mg
- Phosphorus: 14 mg
- Potassium: 232 mg
- Vitamin A, RAE: 7 µg
- Vitamin A, IU: 142 IU
- Vitamin C: 2 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.11 mg
- Vitamin K: 4.7 µg
Besides, dried anjeer is rich in phenol, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids that can be beneficial for your health.
Benefits of Anjeer
Here are some of the health benefits you may get by eating anjeer:
1. Anjeer May Aid in Weight Loss.
Since anjeer is rich in dietary fiber, it can help in weight management.
According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, dietary fiber intake can help in reduce weight and improve overall health.
However, as anjeer is also high in carbohydrate, you need to take them moderately. Otherwise, it may lead to weight gain.
2. It Can Lower Blood Pressure.
High sodium and low potassium level can increase your blood pressure and lead to hypertension.
A recent study confirms that regular intake of potassium can control blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension.
As anjeer contains a high amount of potassium and less sodium, it can fight against hypertension and help you to relax.
3. Anjeer May Improve Bone Health.
Calcium is an important element to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Research published in The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society confirms that calcium can reduce the rate of the loss of bone mineral density.
Being a good source of calcium, anjeer can promote healthy bones. Besides, the fruit contains phosphorus that encourages bone formation and spurs regrowth if there’s an injury.
4. It May Control Diabetes.
Fig is a high-fiber fruit that can be a great dietary supplement to manage diabetes, particularly its leaves can lower the need for insulin for those who take insulin injections for diabetes.
A study published in 2018 states that those who consume a higher amount of dietary fiber have reduced the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Figs are high in potassium, which has also been proved helpful in reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes.
Besides, high potassium intake can reduce the frequency of blood sugar spikes and falls.
5. Anjeer Can Reduce Oxidative Stress.
Anjeer is rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidants that can kill the free radicals and protect your body from oxidative stress.
Besides, this fruit can effectively inhibit triglycerides, one of the key factors behind different cardiovascular diseases.
6. It May Prevent Constipation.
If you regularly suffer from constipation, anjeer can be a good choice for you, thanks to its dietary fiber.
According to the research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, regular consumption of dietary fiber could increase the frequency of stool in people with constipation.
Regular intake of this fruit can improve your bowel movement, treat constipation, as well as diarrhea.
7. Anjeer Can Soothe Hemorrhoids.
Anjeer has been one of the most popular home remedies for hemorrhoids, according to a journal published in 2013.
It’s because the fruit has laxative effects, which help ease the hemorrhoids by decreasing the pressure on the anus.
Besides, the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of anjeer help soothe the pain due to hemorrhoids.
8. It May Reduce The Cholesterol Level.
Anjeer is a great source of pectin, a soluble fiber that helps remove the excess cholesterol and eliminate them from your body through the excretory system
A study was published in 2014. It confirms the efficiency of pectin in reducing cholesterol level in blood.
9. Anjeer Can Treat Alzheimer’s.
Anjeer has the ability to soothe neuroinflammation and reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
In a study conducted in 2015, it was proved that anjeer could decrease the inflammatory cytokines during aging, which was helpful for diseases like Alzheimer’s.
10. It May Treat Venereal Diseases.
Anjeer has been a traditional medicine for venereal diseases, mostly in the Indian subcontinent and some other parts of the world.
There has been no such research on this fruit’s efficacy on treating sexually transmitted diseases, but it has been effectively treating these diseases for such a long time.
11. Anjeer Can Soothe Respiratory Diseases.
The numerous antioxidants and nutritional properties of anjeer may effectively soothe respiratory problems like bronchitis, asthma, etc.
Besides, its leaf contains a number of natural chemicals that help prevent the symptoms of asthma when consumed as a tea.
12. It May Treat Sexual Dysfunction.
Anjeer has been a recommended remedy for sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction or sterility since the ancient time.
Although it is popular as a potent sexual and fertility supplement, further research is needed to prove its efficacy.
13. Anjeer May Prevent Macular Degeneration.
Macular degeneration is one of the major causes of vision loss or blurred vision at an old age.
Anjeer has a high content of antioxidants, vitamin A, C, D, E, and K that are claimed to prevent the age-related vision problem.
However, There are studies that don’t support this claim.
14. It Can Prevent Urinary Calcium Loss.
Following a high-sodium diet may lead to urinary calcium loss. As anjeer is low in sodium and high in potassium, it may eliminate uric acid and other toxins from your body, while minimizing the calcium loss.
Research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that potassium can regulate the waste material in your urine and prevent calcium loss.
15. Anjeer May Promote Healthy Skin.
Antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids in anjeer can fight the free radicals and reduce aging signs such as dry skin, wrinkles, etc.
Besides, the fruit is rich in alkanes that can maintain the pH balance of your skin. You can use it to treat skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Side Effects of Anjeer
Anjeer is extremely nutritious, but it also comes with some minor side effects due to its high sugar content. The possible side effects you may experience:
- Diarrhea
- Tooth decay
- Allergy
- If you’re taking medicine for diabetes, eating anjeer may reduce your blood sugar drastically.
- Consuming figs before any surgery may cause bleeding in the digestive tract.
Bottom Line
Anjeer is a nutrition-dense fruit that you can find at your nearest grocery shop. Although this fruit is seasonal, its dried variety is available throughout the year.
The paste of anjeer can be a healthy replacement for sugar and can be used in pies, cakes, puddings, and other baked goods.
However, this extremely healthy snacks must be taken with moderation as excessive eating may cause diarrhea or low blood sugar problem for some people.
If you have a sweet tooth, it’s better to try this delicious fruit as a snack or an ingredient in your dessert.
