7 Easy-access Alternatives To Exotic And Expensive Foods

- Naini Setalvad

Globalization has allowed us to access exotic foods from around the world, all year round. For most people, if a product is expensive, it must be superior. What they don’t realize is that it may cost more not because of its premium quality but because of the massive duty levied on imported food. A lot of locally sourced produce is just as good, and in some cases, even better. What’s more, it is priced far more reasonably. Also, eating local foods can help you reduce your carbon footprint by up to seven per cent and show more love for the planet. Here are some easy-tofind local heroes.

AMLA v/s GOJI BERRIES

With lifestyle illnesses on the rise, everyone wants to boost their immunity, and vitamin C is essential for it. We often end up ignoring local sources of vitamin C such as amla [the Indian gooseberry] and hanker for the fancier goji berry. While goji berry may be labelled as a ‘miracle fruit’ because of its many health benefits, the sour-tasting amla offers similar—if not better— benefits. Our daily requirement of vitamin C is about 65 to 90 gm. One serving of amla contains 600 mg of vitamin C, and if juiced, its value increases. When it is dehydrated,