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A study suggests that besides being rich in cancer-preventing antioxidants and vitamins, the blueberry can help protect against a range of intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Their findings suggest that the blueberry’s protective benefits are most effective when eaten together with probiotics, like those found in yogurt.

As if we need an excuse to eat more of these bursting-with-flavour berries!

If you need an extra little push, here are two recipes we can’t wait to try out.

SWEET BLUEBERRY SALAD

3 cups of your favourite greens, torn

1/2 cup blueberries

1/4 cup each, sunflower seeds, walnut pieces and dried cranberries

1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

For the dressing: 1/4 cup of your favourite vinegar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup grapeseed oil (or to taste)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Toss the romaine lettuce, blueberries, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, walnut pieces, feta cheese, and goat cheese in a large bowl. Pour the vinegar, syrup, and grapeseed oil over the salad one at a time; toss until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE PARFAITS
A once-in-a-while dessert treat from Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Serves 8, so invite guests! Amount per serving:  Calories: 248 | Total Fat: 13.6g
3/4 package cream cheese, softened (save the last quarter to spread on your morning multigrain bagel!)
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 package of vanilla instant pudding
1 1/2 cups thawed whipped dessert topping or homemade whipped cream, divided.
24 graham crackers, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups  blueberries
DIRECTIONS
  1. Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk. Add dry pudding mix; mix well. Whisk in 1 cup whipped topping.
  2. Layer half each of wafers, berries and pudding mixture in 8 parfait glasses. Repeat layers.
  3. Top with remaining whipped topping


Do  blueberries  remind  you  of  something?

How  about  Wear  Blue  Day  on  March 1 2th?

Read the full article on the blueberry’s digestive health properties at Telegraph.co.uk.

Follow us on Twitter for daily updates, and follow our friends from across the pond, Beating Bowel Cancer, for even more tips on beating colorectal cancer globally!