Fig

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Period pain and stress²

  In students, eating dried figs during their periods lowered pain, stress and menstrual symptoms, and improved quality of life.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after meals³

  In people, fig fruit extract lowered the rise in blood sugar and insulin after a sugary drink.

• No harm found

  Cholesterol levels⁴

  Eating dried figs every day did not lower LDL cholesterol in people with already-high levels.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Memory in Alzheimer's mice¹²

  In animal studies, figs in the diet improved memory and lowered signs of brain damage in Alzheimer's mice.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Nutritional value of food⁸

  Figs have been eaten as food and used as medicine since ancient times, and scientists are still studying what makes them valuable.

• Benefit

  Brain and nerve health⁹

  Fig antioxidants blocked a brain enzyme, which may help protect nerves in Alzheimer's.

• Benefit

  Heart and gut health¹⁰

  Figs may help heart, gut and blood sugar health, but scientists say more studies in people are needed.

• Benefit

  Long-term disease risk¹¹

  Fig by-products are rich in plant compounds that may play a role against cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Allergies and intolerances

These are about people with an allergy, an intolerance or coeliac disease. The signal is about the ingredient itself, and these are about the person eating it, so the signal does not count them.

• Mouth and breathing allergy⁵

  Some people allergic to grass or birch pollen can react to fig, mostly to its skin.

Single cases of misuse or overdose

One person or one incident, such as an accidental overdose or a mistake in a kitchen or factory. They are real, but a single case does not show what happens at normal amounts, so the signal does not count them.

• Allergic reaction to fruit⁶

  A person had a serious allergic reaction right after eating fresh fig, and tests showed fig was the trigger.

• Mouth and throat swelling⁷

  A person with asthma had swelling of the mouth and tongue after eating figs and kiwi.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.