If a wasp mistakenly enters a female fig, which is the one we eat, it has nowhere to reproduce and cannot get out because its wings and antennae will have fallen off. The wasp dies inside, which is unfortunately necessary for it to provide the pollen that will give birth to the fruit we love so much.
So when we eat a fig, we’re probably also eating a wasp. But don’t worry, the fig uses an enzyme it contains called ficin, which breaks it down and transforms it into protein. Technically, when we eat a fig, we’re also eating a wasp, or at least what’s left of it. This is why many vegans prefer not to eat figs.
This tree certainly has a very unique pollination strategy!
But let’s also look at 10 other important aspects of figs.
1) Figs act as mild laxatives because they provide fiber (between 2 and 3%). This is mainly insoluble fiber, located largely in the small grains found inside.
2) It provides B vitamins. Particularly vitamin B2
3) It’s a fruit that helps you recover minerals. It provides potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
4) The more intense its color, the richer this fruit is in anthocyanin pigments, which have the particularity of protecting blood vessels.
5) Dried figs are a source of energy. They are an interesting fruit for athletes due to their low glycemic index.
