We Know Figs Are Healthy, but What About Fig Newtons? | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

We Know Figs Are Healthy, but What About Fig Newtons? | Livestrong.com? ›

Fig Newtons can contain a lot of sugar. There are more 700 types of figs, and they've been popular since the 19th century. Love of this healthy, sweet fruit has led to the production of many different chutneys, jams and other dessert products.

The label lists flour, figs, sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil, salt, corn fiber, oat fiber, baking soda, calcium lactate, malic acid, soy lecithin, sodium Benzoate, and sulfur dioxide. There is no dairy in there or any animal based products, so, yes, Fig Newtons are vegan. However, Fig Newtons are not gluten-free.

The first thing to note is that fresh figs taste nothing like Fig Newtons. A fresh fig does not have the extreme sweetness, the chewiness, or the noticeable seeds of a dried fig.

Figs made their way into the commercial market in 1892 with the introduction of Fig Newtons. Ounce for ounce, figs have more fiber than prunes and more potassium than bananas. At 20% of the RDA for dietary fiber, figs can act as a natural laxative.

Fig Newton Cookies

They are also fairly healthy. Figs are well known for having fiber, which helps with digestion, as well as protein and several vitamins and minerals. This means there are quite a few health benefits of fig bars like fig Newtons.

The dehydration process of drying this fruit results in a higher concentration of sugar relative to weight, so dried figs have a higher concentration of carbohydrates—mostly in the form of sugar—than fresh figs.

Figs. This fruit of the ficus often gets overlooked unless it's followed by Newton. Excess sodium in the diet can lead to potassium deficiency, which causes high blood pressure. Rich in potassium, figs restore balance and help lower blood pressure.

Fresh figs are delicate and tend to be expensive due to shipping, so dried figs are a much more cost-effective way to experience figs. They add a perfect for a pop of sweetness in salads or desserts.

Wait, am I eating wasp bits when I eat a fig? “There's no fig wasp in there by the time people are eating the fruit,” says Ferguson. The female fig produces an enzyme that completely digests the exoskeleton before hungry humans can take a bite. To be clear: “The crunchy bits are seeds, not wasp parts,” she adds.

Female wasps will crawl inside both male and female figs to try to reproduce. They burrow inside the fig through a narrow opening called an ostiole. If the female wasp arrives in a male fig—also known as a caprifig—she lays her eggs and then dies. Her eggs hatch, with blind, flightless male wasps hatching first.

How many bugs are allowed in fig newtons? ›

Here you would learn that fig paste is allowed to have up to 13 insect heads per 100 grams.

Digestive symptoms

Since figs have a high fiber content, eating too many figs — especially dried figs — can cause diarrhea.

Consuming figs may cause gas in some individuals due to their high fiber content. It's advisable to monitor your tolerance and intake. If you experience persistent discomfort, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Yes, fig newtons have a “fig paste” in the center which is made from processing figs with other ingredients like a sweetener.

Here you would learn that fig paste is allowed to have up to 13 insect heads per 100 grams.

The main difference between the two is that Fig Newtons are softer and squishier than the biscuity shell of fig rolls. I would almost say that they are slightly damp. That said, sometimes fig rolls can be a bit dry – I usually have mine with a mug of tea or coffee.

Made with dried figs, cinnamon, and honey, these delicious bars taste like childhood.