You most likely already know about the many properties and benefits of dried figs. They are very rich in vitamin B, C, A and E and many other minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and phosphate just to name a few.

Incorporate this splendid food in your daily schedule and soon you will feel its properties.

Either if you consume dried figs directly or in sweet or savory meals, the benefits of dry figs are innumerable. Today we want to share with you an authentic and natural recipe that not only you can have with breakfast or as an afternoon snack, but is specially good for children to take to school.

You’ll see how with some dry figs El Pajarero and some oats (as well as some other ingredients) you will add natural sweetness, taste and texture to this delicious dry fruit.

Ingredients 

• 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 8 dried figs El Pajarero
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 a teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt
• 3 cups of oats
• 1 cup of butter without salt at room temperature
• 1/2 a cup of brown sugar

How to prepare it

Step 1

In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the oats and put them aside.

Step 2 

In a blender, stir the butter and the brown sugar until they become one, approximately for 1 minute. Beat the eggs and vanilla. Add the mixture to the flour until it’s well mixed. Stir the dry figs El Pajarero into the mixture. Let the dough rest for at least an hour or overnight (the dough can also be pre-cooked and frozen for future use)

Step 3

Preheat the oven at a high temperature. Cover one or two trays with baking paper. Distribute the dough throughout the trays, about the size of a spoon. Bake for 12 or 14 minutes or until the cookies are slightly golden. Let them cool down for a few minutes.

Recommendation: Enjoy them with a cup of tea and/ or vegetal or cow’s milk.

You will love them!

You can now find dried figs in many grocery stores, eat them to take care of your health as well as enjoying them, as they contain huge doses of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, etc. Today we will tell you about some of the benefits magnesium has.

Magnesium is one of the most abundant elements in the planet, it’s essential for many physiological processes in the human body. Remember 100 grams of dried figs count for 12% of the daily medium value recommended.

On the other hand, the medium daily value of magnesium we need is over 400 milligrams and is not hard to obtain if you have a varied and equilibrated diet, as it is a very abundant element. Nonetheless, meeting this dosage can be hard if you stray away from the typical mediterranean diet.

This alcaline element is the seventh most abundant in all of planet earth, representing 2% of the earth's crust and is the third most prevalent element found in liquid form after chlorine and sodium. This fact can make us realize how important it is on the physiological processes of living beings, one of them being muscular regulation.

This is the most important mineral for muscular contraction. Without magnesium, there is a chronic deficit and cramps can become much more frequent. It’s presence is essential to some extent so muscular contraction can be regulated properly.

It also intervenes in electrical impulse transmission in different ways, as it also does in protection of DNA and RNA when they are exposed to change. It also forms many coenzymes for important functions.

It’s also a basic mineral for our gut flora, and it’ll be used so our intestinal functions work properly, that’s why magnesium intake must always be above minimum, so it can travel through our intestines and feed our flora. It must be said that 60% to 70% of magnesium travels through our intestines. On the other hand, magnesium is considered essential so that phosphorus and calcium will bind with our bones and teeth, therefore phosphorus and calcium rich foods without magnesium are not effective to fixate these minerals.

But magnesium’s strengths don’t end there, as low levels of plasmatic magnesium are related with anxiety and depression, without any concrete proof. What’s clear is that it’s a crucial mineral that must be very present in our diet or we put ourselves at risk of suffering deficiencies with symptoms such as muscle cramps, anxiety, insomnia, dental problems, bone breakage or even in extreme cases neuronal syndromes like convulsions or spasms, specially in alcoholic or depressed people.

What’s most important is having present that if you want to take care of yourself through a rich, varied and equilibrated diet a little dose of dried figs, along other food products like legumes, whole grains, blue fish, dairy, dried fruits, fatty fruits, dark chocolate, raisins and asparagus, can offer the dose needed to achieve the medium daily value of magnesium. Don’t base your diet in ultra processed or empty food. With an adequate diet you can take care of yourself naturally. And don’t forget dried figs…