We had many times wondered if our Indian food could be as healthy as the Blueberries, Strawberries, Avocados, and Brazil nuts!
What do we do?
We spend on the exported “healthy” options or foods. Yes, it is great to consume them for health reasons. We all know Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients so we can’t stop from buying them, though you know they are heavy on the pocket when you have to make multiple purchases.
Are there any good replacements for blueberries in India? Yes. We also have some great Indian options that we could consider as alternatives to western healthy foods.
We have Strawberries, Grapes, Oranges, Gooseberries, and Phalsa or Falsa.
Phalsa is called Indian Sherbet berry. Phalsa fruit may be small in appearance but its benefits are big.
Phalsa looks like blueberries or black currant; it is a dark-red-purple berry that looks almost similar to blueberries.
And what about the benefits of consuming this fruit? Vitamin C is found in abundance in Phalsa. They are also highly rich in magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, anthocyanin, and flavonoids that are considered protection against cancer.
As you know now, it has great medicinal properties too. It is apparently used in Ayurveda in India. To avoid diseases and to stay healthy, seasonal fruits are a great option. In such a situation, Phalsa fruit is very beneficial to keep the body naturally cool in summer. Phalsa is extremely helpful in curing the problems of pitta. Along with this, Phalsa is also helpful in making the digestion process smooth.
Isn’t it amazing! Phalsa is pretty close to blueberries in their nutrition profile too because of its remarkable benefits. It is juicy and has high water content. Phalsa is beneficial for arthritis, anemia, hypertension, and diabetes.
Modern medicine categorizes Phalsa as low glycaemic fruit; therefore, the juice is suitable for diabetics to stabilize blood sugar levels.
If you are looking for Phalsa, they are available on Amazon in combination with Blueberry or as juice powders, you could simply add them to water and consume them as a refreshing summer juice. Or if you prefer a dried option, they are available too.
So to conclude, even if we love blueberries a lot, do look at the Indian alternative Phalsa which is locally grown and equally beneficial to health.