The Real Fig Let’s

Figs have been associated with health and prosperity for centuries, and before sugar became popular, they were used as a sweetener. Today, it’s making a comeback as a healthier alternative to refined sugar.

Figs are a potassium-rich food and can help correct imbalance. It can also flush excess sodium in your body because of its high fiber levels. In addition, they are an excellent source of prebiotics that improve overall gut health.

Figs are an excellent source of:

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C

• Calcium

• Iron

• Potassium

• Magnesium

Although figs are healthy in moderation, the sugars in figs can add up quickly, so it is recommended to be mindful of the amount you consume to keep your overall sugar intake low.

So there you have it, the fig! As for what we call figs here in the West Indies, well, it’s pretty much a type of banana, and I learned that they are ‘cooking bananas,’ which is also referred to as fig or green fig, typically used for cooking in its green stage but can also be eaten when it’s ri pe. So whatever you call it, each has a unique taste profile with similar nutritional properties and incredible health benefits.

So, whether it’s a fig enjoyed as a fruit or used for decadent sweet desserts, or a cooking fig for those delicious traditional Caribbean dishes like green Fig and saltfish, they both bring pleasure to our palate in different ways.