Get Figgy with it...

I recently went on a trip to Seattle, it was very beautiful city with lots to do and see. As I always do when I visit new places, I search up nearby farmers markets. I found a very popular tourist site that I knew I would love Pike Place Market. There were cute little shops and stands everywhere, there was fish, fish tossing, flowers, food, produce, fish, small restaurants, quirky little shops, clothing & accessory items. All businesses were local and small which was very admirable.

As I was strolling through the market, I saw a fresh fig for the first time. I have tried figs before but only dried fig. I was curious to see what it actually tasted like and so I bought a bag and enjoyed some fresh, juicy figs. I instantly fell in love with this fruit and decided to research its nutritional benefits. Here are some fun facts about figs:

Fig trees have no blossoms on their branches. The blossom is inside of the fruit! Many tiny flowers produce the crunchy little edible seeds that give figs their unique texture.

~Figs naturally help hold in moisture in baked goods, keeping them fresher.

~California produces 100% of the nation’s dried figs and 98% of the fresh figs.

~The fig tree is a symbol of abundance, fertility and sweetness.

~Eating one half cup of figs has as much calcium as drinking one-half cup of milk.

Fresh, as well as dried figs contain good levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine, folates, and pantothenic acid. These vitamins function as co-factors for metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Research studies suggest that the chlorogenic acid in them help lower blood sugar levels and control blood-glucose levels in type-II diabetes mellitus (adult onset) condition.