Fig Nutrition For Fresh Dried And Calimyrna Figs

Figs are a tasty and nutritious snack.

Image Credit: Sarsmis/iStock/Getty Images

In This Article

    Fig Nutrition
  
    Glycemic Index
  
    How to Eat Figs
  You can find dried figs in many grocery and convenience stores, and you might occasionally stumble upon fresh figs in the produce section.

  Advertisement
 They have a wealth of nutritional benefits and serve as key sources of essential nutrients, and there are multiple types of figs to choose from!

  Video of the Day
  For example, Calimyrna figs originated in California and are a special breed of fig derived from the Smyrna fig of Turkey. Known for its golden skin and nut-like flavor, the Calimyrna fig is most commonly found dried but is also eaten fresh. Another type of figs, Mission figs, are eggplant-colored on the outside and equally tasty and nutritious.

  Advertisement
 Read more about the nutritional value of figs as well as Calimyrna figs' benefits.

Fig Nutrition A 1/2 cup of dried figs contains 186 calories, per the USDA. Meanwhile, there are 84 calories in fresh figs per 1/2 cup. Fresh vs. Dried Figs Per 3 figs Fresh Figs Dried Figs Calories 111 60 Total Fat 0.5 g 0.2 g Total Carbs 28.8 g 15.3 g Sugar 24.4 g 11.5 g Fiber 4.4 g 2.4 g Protein 1.1 g 0.8 g Potassium 7% Daily Value (DV) 3% DV Copper 12% DV 8% DV Vitamin K 6% DV 3% DV Source: USDA This fruit is rich in carbohydrates and contains a bit of protein per serving. Fresh and dried figs are excellent sources of dietary fiber, a type of carbohydrate that’s linked to reduced heart disease risk and preventing constipation.

  Advertisement
 A serving of fresh figs contains 4.4 grams of fiber, while a serving of dried figs provides 2.4 grams. This contributes a solid amount toward your daily fiber intake goal — 14 grams per every 1,000 calories you eat.

As for Calimyrna figs’ nutrition, you’ll get 165 calories, 42 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fiber and 1.5 grams of protein. Tip As dried fruit, Calimyrna and Mission figs are calorie-dense because of their low moisture content. As a calorie-dense food, it has a high calorie content relative to its serving size. But, as a fruit, figs make a healthy calorie choice compared to other calorie-dense foods such as cookies or candy bars. Potassium A 1/2 cup of dried figs contains 11 percent of your daily value of potassium.

  Advertisement
 Including more potassium-rich foods in your diet helps lower blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. But, if you have kidney disease or a history of high blood potassium levels, you may need to limit the amount of potassium in your diet.

Talk to your doctor about your daily potassium needs before increasing your intake.

  Advertisement
 Copper

A 1/2 cup of dried figs contains 24 percent of your daily value of copper.

  Advertisement
 Figs provide copper, which activates enzymes that keep your connective tissues strong, supports healthy brain cell communication and aids in energy production. It also helps your body absorb iron, which makes it beneficial for preventing and treating iron deficiency, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Vitamin K A 1/2 cup of dried figs contains 10 percent of your daily value of vitamin K.

  Advertisement
 Figs are good sources of vitamin K, and fresh figs also provide you with beneficial vitamin A. Vitamin K's primary role in your body involves activating clotting factors, or proteins needed for the formation of blood clots. As a result, the vitamin K from your diet allows your body to control bleeding, especially after an injury, per the NIH.

Fig Glycemic Index Dried figs have a moderate ranking on the glycemic index (GI). A 2-ounce serving of dried figs has a GI of about 61, per the University of Sydney.

  Advertisement
 But dried figs have a higher concentration of carbs relative to their volume than fresh figs, which means that a serving of fresh figs may satisfy your appetite more effectively while adding fewer carbs to your diet.

The glycemic index rates how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Your body digests and absorbs the carbohydrates in foods that have a moderate to high GI value more rapidly than the carbs in low-GI foods, resulting in a higher rise in your blood sugar after you eat them.

  Advertisement
 How to Eat Figs

Dried figs — whether Calimyrna or Mission or another type —travel well, which makes them excellent served on their own as a snack you can eat on-the-go. They also work well in sandwiches: Experiment with adding chopped figs and dried cranberries to chicken salad sandwiches or in leafy green salads. Fresh figs are much more delicate with a short shelf life, so you’ll want to eat them at home, shortly after purchase. Enjoy sliced fresh figs on their own as a treat, or pair them with an ounce of cheese for a more decadent snack. Puree figs and combine them with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for a healthful and flavorful homemade salad dressing.

  Advertisement
 
  Advertisement
  
  references
  
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Raw
    
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Dried, Uncooked
    
      Colorado State University Extension: Dietary Fiber
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Copper
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin A (Retinol)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
    
      American Heart Association: "How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure"
       




  references
  
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Raw
    
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Dried, Uncooked
    
      Colorado State University Extension: Dietary Fiber
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Copper
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin A (Retinol)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
    
      American Heart Association: "How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure"
    




Figs are a tasty and nutritious snack.

Image Credit: Sarsmis/iStock/Getty Images

Fig Nutrition
Glycemic Index
How to Eat Figs

Per 3 figs Fresh Figs Dried Figs Calories 111 60 Total Fat 0.5 g 0.2 g Total Carbs 28.8 g 15.3 g Sugar 24.4 g 11.5 g Fiber 4.4 g 2.4 g Protein 1.1 g 0.8 g Potassium 7% Daily Value (DV) 3% DV Copper 12% DV 8% DV Vitamin K 6% DV 3% DV

Source: USDA

As dried fruit, Calimyrna and Mission figs are calorie-dense because of their low moisture content. As a calorie-dense food, it has a high calorie content relative to its serving size. But, as a fruit, figs make a healthy calorie choice compared to other calorie-dense foods such as cookies or candy bars.

      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Raw
    
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Figs, Dried, Uncooked
    
      Colorado State University Extension: Dietary Fiber
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Copper
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin A (Retinol)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
    
      American Heart Association: "How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure"