Call it Fig or Anjeer, these sweet and juicy fruits coming from the mulberry clan is a powerhouse of nutrients. Imbued with anti-diabetic, laxative, digestive, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this super fruit portrays a wealth of health benefits and can be consumed in both dry or ripe form. Enriched with health and healing properties, natural sugars, anjeer is available in a variety of colours like red, purple, green and golden yellow and hence is popularly touted as nature’s very own candy.
Anjeer that goes by the botanical name Ficus carica is of deciduous origin, which usually grows up to a height of 7-10 metres and are extensively found in the Asian subcontinent. Being one of the most popularly used dry fruit, the sugary and juicy figs or the dry ones with crunchy seeds are a true delight to add in any diet plan owing to its exceptional nutritional qualities. Be it added to salads, or whipped up into smoothies, jams, chutneys, or dips, or baked as home-made cookies, bars, or simply eaten up as a healthy munchy, the incredible fig can be consumed in multiple ways.
Nutritional Benefits Of Anjeer
Figs are sanctified with a host of nutritional components including alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, vitamins like vitamin C, A, K and B and minerals like potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron and zinc. They are also a rich source of natural fibers that actively works to break down the blood sugar within the body. From controlling blood pressure, regulating blood sugar, managing weight, enhancing heart functions, controlling blood sugar, lowering risks of cancer, fortifying bones, preventing constipation, promoting digestion, treating kidney stones or rejuvenating the skin and hair, the humble anjeer does it all.
Although sweet and juicy in taste and enriched with the essential nutrients, one might have a doubt, whether this power fruit can really be added to a diabetic diet.
Diabetes is one such chronic health condition that has been challenging the medical experts throughout the world in the last two decades. If not treated on time, the high glycemic levels can literally cause severe damage to the vital organs of the body like heart, kidneys, pancreas, and to our dismay, now even the younger generation are been diagnosed with this auto-immune condition, owing mostly due to their sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary choices.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus is a health condition when the beta-pancreatic cells in the body produce very little or no insulin at all, or when the body does not respond correctly to the insulin production. In a healthy person, the pancreas secretes insulin to help the body store and use the excess sugar and fat absorbed from the food one eats. In case of diabetics, the malfunctioning of the pancreatic cells leads to high blood sugar levels which need to be managed by regular exercise and a well-balanced nutritious specific diet. Once being diagnosed with this chronic condition; one has to consider and rethink about each and every food that they eat or drink so as to not spike the blood sugar levels.
Is Anjeer Good For Diabetics?
The exceptional nutritional content of anjeer reveals that although sweet in taste, it is high in fibre and very low in natural sugar. The abundance of fibre in anjeer helps in enabling the insulin function of the body, lowering the risk of diabetes and improving the body’s insulin sensitivity. A study by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2017 even claims that figs significantly lower risk of diabetes which makes it a healthy snacking option for people following a diabetic diet.
Although owing to its sweet and juicy nature, one can consume it on a daily basis but one must be careful to eat it as a midday or mid-afternoon snack in a limited or specified quantity and not overindulge in it so that the blood sugar levels always remain under control.
Conclusion
Hence, we can conclude that this versatile juicy, pulpy fruit is brimming with healthful nutrients and has umpteen health benefits and thus can easily be added as one of the fruity indulgences to meet the sweet cravings of a diabetic while keeping the blood sugar levels under control.