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…
Figs are usually a perfect accompaniment to cheeses, so today we would like to suggest four ways of combining them: blue cheese, fresh cheese, goat cheese and aged cheese. In some of these combinations, some other ingredients are added, but the main ingredients are dried figs and cheese. Let's get started!
Figs with goat cheese
A winner combination. If you want to surprise your guests with a quick and delicious recipe, we suggest two alternatives, either hot or cold.
The combination of figs with warm goat cheese consists in opening some dried figs and introducing a teaspoon of goat cheese in each one. The amount will depend on the size of the fig, but it must be enough to be able to close it. Once closed, place the figs with goat cheese in the oven at 180º for approximately 10 minutes. You can serve it on freshly made toast.
If you prefer eating it cold, just open the dried figs in half, put some goat cheese and, if desired, add a drop of balsamic vinegar (it will go great). You can add pistachio nuts and besides giving it a new texture, it enhances the flavor.
Figs with blue cheese
Specifically, Niki Segnit in The Encyclopedia of Flavors recommends combining figs with stilton cheese and a glass of oporto. She also recommends combining figs with blue cheese in a salad with hearty leaves, also drizzled with a vinaigrette of oporto, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Figs with fresh cheese
Between July and August, in fig harvesting season, figs are usually eaten for breakfast accompanied by fresh cheese and some nuts. When fresh figs are not in season, dried figs are very pleasurable when eaten with fresh cheese and honey regardless. If you like sweet and sour, you will love this combination.
Figs with aged cheese
Are you daring enough to combine dried figs with a good Manchego? The association responsible for the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese recommends pairing young Parmesan cheese with dried figs and hazelnuts. And if you add to this combination a good Serrano ham, the combination becomes otherworldly
What's your favorite combination?