Can You Eat Raw Figs?

The best way to enjoy figs is raw, with the skin and seeds intact. You can also remove the peels and scoop out the seeds, if you like, or cook figs by baking, broiling or grilling them. But, the quickest and easiest way to enjoy these gems is by removing the stem and taking a bite right out of the raw fig.

Why you should not eat figs?

Figs can trigger stomach aches and bloating as they are high in fiber. Figs can also increase sun sensitivity. They also increase the risk of bleeding, lower blood sugar levels way too much, and may negatively affect the liver and intestine. Figs interfere with calcium absorption, too, as they contain oxalates.

Can figs be poisonous?

Although the plant is not poisonous per se, F. carica is listed in the FDA Database of Poisonous Plants. Organic chemical compounds called furanocoumarins are known to cause phytophotodermatitis in humans. The common fig contains significant quantities of two furanocoumarins, psoralen and bergapten.