May Improve Vascular and Heart Health

Figs may lower blood pressure and blood fat levels, so improving vascular health and lowering your risk of heart disease. According to one study, fig extract lowers blood pressure in rats with normal blood pressure as well as those with high blood pressure. Animal studies have also demonstrated that supplementation with fig leaf extract improves total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

In a 5-week trial of 83 adults with high LDL (bad) cholesterol, researchers discovered that those who added roughly 14 dried figs (120 grams) to their diet daily had no differences in blood fat levels when compared to a control group. More human research is needed to better understand the link between figs and heart health.