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All figs meet or exceed the US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Food and Drug Administration standard. Certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).
Paraficus® is a convenient, easy to use, granulated form of pure, whole, certified organic, freeze-dried fruit of the fig tree (Ficus carica). Fresh figs are super sweet with a center full of crunchy seeds. What we think of as fig fruit, however, are not technically ‘fruit’, in the strict botanical sense. They are actually clusters of hundreds of tiny flowers turned inside-out and encased in a thin skin, called ‘synconia’.
The fig tree, with its large attractive leaves and sweet delicate ‘fruit’, has one of the longest histories of being a highly valued tree and food source. It is the most talked about fruit in the Bible and was considered sacred in Greece, Italy, Egypt, and southwest Asia.
Health Functions
Fig (whole fruit), Ficus carica 100% Grown certified organic. No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or synthetic additives.
1 teaspoon twice daily. Can be sprinkled on your meal or ground into a powder and added to water or a smoothie or as directed by your registered health care provider.
All parts of the Ficus carica tree have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the fresh ripe fruit of the fig tree are very tender, do not ship well, and have a brief shelf-life, which are reasons that fresh figs aren’t more readily available and popular in grocery stores. They are more commonly sold dried. Dried figs are low in calories and fat, sodium-free, and are a source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fiber, polyphenols, and other health-promoting bioactive compounds. Figs are second only to oranges in the amount of calcium in a typical serving and rank among the fruits highest in potassium and iron.
Alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, tannins, amino acids, and enzymes are among the classes of bioactive compounds discovered in figs that contribute to their beneficial properties. Polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins are responsible for the antioxidant capacity of figs. These important phytochemicals are most abundant in the skin of figs. Studies have shown higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in dried figs than in fresh.
An important component of figs is their fiber content. A handful of 3-5 dried figs provides approximately 20% of the recommended daily amount of fiber. Over 28% of the fiber in figs is soluble fiber, which is known to be valuable in supporting normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels and encouraging proper digestion.
All figs produce a thick white vascular fluid referred to as ‘latex’. Within the fig, latex serves as the cytoplasm of the plant’s cells, and it plays roles in respiration, metabolism, and defense against disease and physical injury to the plant. These properties of fig latex are useful in humans to help support skin health.
There are hundreds of varieties of figs, but only about six are cultivated in the United States and most of those are grown in California’s central valley, where the warm dry Meditteranean-type climate produces the highest quality fruit. Figs are customarily allowed to fully ripen and slightly dry, before picking from the tree, providing peak flavor and nutritional value. The figs in Paraficus® are fresh-picked, freeze-dried and granulated for ease of use. Fiber content, antioxidant value, and phytochemical activity are left intact. The freeze-dried granulated figs in Paraficus® retain nearly all the health benefits of fresh figs.
Enjoy the benefits of Paraficus® by sprinkling it on your cereal or dessert. Add it to baked goods, sauces, or dressings. Grind it into a powder and add it to a smoothie or other drink. Be creative and let us know how you like it.
