Try Blueberries for Bladder Health

From Women's Health Foundation

We often hear how great cranberries are for getting rid of those nasty urinary tract infections. But cranberry juice is a little too tart for some taste buds. Plus, the amount of sugar added to many brands of cranberry juice is enough to counteract any healthy effects.

That's why you may be excited to learn from Denise M. Elser, MD, a urogynecologist at Women's Health Institute of Illinois near Chicago, that blueberries are great for your bladder health, too.

Here are three recipes to help you get more blueberries in your diet.

Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes
Here's a recipe based on Martha Stewart's Best Buttermilk Pancakes, adapted from Martha Stewart's Original Classics Cookbook, made even better with the addition of healthy blueberries. The Smitten Kitchen blogger also gives you 10 tips for successfully making homemade pancakes.

Blueberry and Toasted Pecan Salad
Beverly Gibbons of Cooking Live shares her recipe for a simple blueberry salad that's perfect for a July Fourth cookout or anytime!

Baked Salmon With Blueberry Sauce
GuiltyKitchen.com offers a healthy entrée recipe using frozen blueberries to make a fabulous sauce for fish.

The blueberries in these recipes aren't guaranteed to keep your bladder healthy, but all those antioxidants and other nutrients found in blueberries can't hurt.

If you want maximum enjoyment (and live in the right location), try picking blueberries fresh from the field.You can try them in Chilled Blueberry Soup.