Smoothies are an excellent option for weight management and heart-healthy eating.

Smoothies are an excellent option for weight management and heart-healthy eating.  Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals.  All you need is a blender, fruit and a base, such as water, milk or yogurt.  Drinking fruit smoothies can also help you reach the recommended intake of fiber.  The soluble fiber found in fruit helps slow digestion and may help control blood sugar and lower cholesterol and help you maintain your desired weight.  Here are three of our favorite smoothie recipes.

Spinach Mango Smoothie
3 ice cubes
1½ cups cold orange juice
2 cups packed baby spinach
Salt
1 cup frozen mango
½ frozen banana

Place the ice in a blender and pulse to crush. Add the orange juice, spinach, and a tiny pinch of salt.  Pulse to begin breaking up the greens and then blend to liquefy the solids.  Add the mango and banana, and blend until the mixture is uniform, thick, and moves easily in the blender jar, about 45 seconds, and serve.

Apple Avocado Smoothie
1 Granny Smith apple, cored skin on
¼ avocado
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon cilantro
1 cup ice
3 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.  This creamy smoothie is good for weight loss and your heart. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat, which can help to lower cholesterol. They also provide essential fatty acids needed to build cells and maintain skin health.

Fruit and Oat Smoothie
1 cup quartered strawberries
1 sliced banana
¼ cup sliced almonds
½ cup old fashioned oats
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 tsp maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Since oatmeal is high in fiber, which is heart-healthy, it offers many cardiovascular benefits, including a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure. Oatmeal also contains a special type of antioxidant which fights off free radicals that attack HDL (good) cholesterol.