Introduction: During the dog days of summer, make sure to eat the “first fruit” for nourishing the spleen and moistening the lungs! It contains selenium levels 100 times that of mushrooms and 400 times that of garlic. Now is the right time, don’t miss out!
There is a saying: “If you don’t nourish yourself during the dog days, you’ll suffer in the autumn.” The characteristics of the dog days are high temperatures and high humidity. Even a slight movement can easily make a person sweat. If sweating too much, it can lead to electrolyte imbalance, which can affect our health! So even though it’s hot during the dog days and we may not have much appetite, we still need to pay attention to adjusting our diet appropriately, nourishing our bodies, and laying a good foundation for our health. In addition to supplementing fresh vegetables, one of the most important things to supplement is nutritious and delicious fruits, and figs are one of them.
“In its natural state, evergreen without flowers, branches with fruits hanging askew.” Figs are known as the “fruit of life.” August and September are the best time to eat figs. Ripe figs are like a “honey pot,” with thin skin and sweet flesh. They taste so delicious that you can’t stop eating them! Many people indulge in figs not only for their delicious taste but also for their nutritional value.
When it comes to the nutrition of figs, it’s not something that can be explained in just a sentence or two. It is acclaimed as the “first fruit” for nourishing the spleen and moistening the lungs, containing 18 types of amino acids, various vitamins, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and more. It has selenium levels 100 times higher than mushrooms and 400 times higher than garlic. Additionally, it contains various components such as malic acid, citric acid, protease, among others. Moreover, its calcium and vitamin C content is 20 times that of apples and grapes, showing that figs are truly exceptional!
The “Compendium of Materia Medica” records that fig leaves have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. They can be dried and used for making herbal tea. Fig roots and stems can also be used medicinally to dispel wind, remove dampness, and alleviate pain. It is evident that every part of the fig tree is valuable. However, many people may be allergic to figs. Why is that? The main reason is that when figs are not fully ripe, the content of hydrolytic protease inside them is relatively high. Hydrolytic protease is an enzyme that can break down proteins. When we consume figs, it interacts with our oral cavity, breaking down into small peptides and amino acids, causing discomfort such as numbness, tingling in the lips, and mouth.
In daily life, figs can be eaten fresh, juiced, canned, made into jam, stewed, and no matter how you eat them, they are exceptionally delicious and nutritious. Stewed ribs with figs is an exquisite dish. During the stewing process of ribs, add chopped figs – peel off the skin and halve the fruit. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Finally, add salt for seasoning before serving. When cooked in this way, it provides a completely different experience from the usual ribs dish. The rich meat flavor combined with the sweet fragrance of figs helps to reduce greasiness.
However, figs are not suitable for everyone. There are many people who should avoid eating figs: firstly, diabetics should avoid them as they can cause fluctuations in blood sugar. Secondly, those allergic to them should also refrain from eating figs, as the fig’s juice can easily trigger allergies. Thirdly, people with high blood lipids, hypertension, poor gastrointestinal function, or prone to diarrhea should avoid them as consumption may aggravate their conditions.
“With thousands of mountains blossoming and trees bearing fragrances, only the fig never ceases to be fragrant; wearing its green robe, silently standing there, inviting you to taste its abundance.” Compared to those flowering plants that bloom brilliantly, attracting bees and butterflies, figs are unique in their high nutritional value. During the dog days of summer, grab this “first fruit” for nourishing the spleen and moistening the lungs! Its selenium content is 100 times that of mushrooms and 400 times that of garlic. Now is the perfect time, don’t miss out! I am Xiaofeng, I love sharing delicious food experiences. Remember to follow Xiaofeng the foodie!
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