6 Heart-Smart Smoothies and Juices Sick of fish? Bored with oatmeal? Sip your way to a stronger ticker with these juice and smoothie recipes from leading nutritionists and doctors.

When it comes to eating well to lower cholesterol and keep your heart and arteries in great shape, you probably know to cut down on the salt, up your fiber intake, and enjoy fish a few times a week.

But there is a sweeter way to boost your heart health. Smoothies and juices, when prepared with the right ingredients and enjoyed in moderation, can provide a daily dose of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. To help you choose the heart-healthiest juices and smoothies , we asked leading nutritionists and doctors for their tastiest recipes. So, go ahead: Sip your way to a stronger heart and lower cholesterol.

Frank Lipman's Blueberry Avocado Smoothie

“Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and disease-fighting phytochemicals,” says integrative and functional medicine physician Frank Lipman, MD, founder and director of Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. “Avocados contain monounsaturated fatty acids, which have been shown to help lower our risk of heart disease. The vitamin B-6 and folic acid in avocados also provide heart support.”

1 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 avocado
1 cup coconut water
juice of 1/2 lime
1 serving vanilla whey protein powder or non-dairy protein powder
1 serving greens powder (optional)
sweeten to taste with raw honey, stevia or xylitol
4 ice cubes

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Kim Snyder's Rainforest Chia Seed Heart-Healthy Smoothie

“Acai, which can be purchased in flash pasteurized smoothie packets in the refrigerated section of your health store, is super-high in antioxidants and has been shown in some studies to help increase levels of good cholesterol and may help prevent atherosclerosis,” explains nutritionist Kim Snyder, CN, author of The Beauty Detox Solution. “Chia seeds are another antioxidant-rich ingredient and have been shown to help reduce blood pressure. And they’re high in omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for cardiovascular health.”

3 1/2 ounces frozen acai berries
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 – 2 Tbs. chia seeds
Stevia to taste (Snyder prefers the liquid form)

Blend the acai berries and almond milk at a low speed until you’ve broken down the berries. Then move to a higher speed. Once the mixture is smooth, add the chia seeds and the stevia. Adjust the sweetness to your taste. Best served fresh.

Cynthia Pasquella's Berry Healthy for Your Heart Smoothie “Hemp contains the most perfect ratio of omega-3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids, which are essential for heart health and improving cardiovascular circulation and function,” explains nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella, CCN, and founder of the SoCal Cleanse. “Bananas are a great source of potassium, which helps to combat high blood pressure, and spinach contains Co-Q10, which has been shown in numerous studies to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.” 4 tablespoons hemp protein powder like SoCal Cleanse Organic Protein +Detox 1 cup almond milk 1 banana 1 handful spinach 1/2 cup blueberries Place all ingredients in blender and blend for 2 minutes to ensure ingredients are properly mixed

Cherie Calbom's Green Lemonade “Apples have been shown to contain compounds that delay the breakdown of LDL, or bad cholesterol,” says Cherie Calbom, CN, author of The Juice Lady’s Living Foods Revolution. 2 green apples 1/2 lemon, peeled if not organic 1 handful or several large leaves of your favorite greens such as spinach, kale, collards, or chard Juice all ingredients, stir and serve as soon as possible.

Bonnie Taub Dix's HeartSmart Smoothie “The milk and yogurt’s calcium and potassium help lower blood pressure and control your weight by making you feel full and satisfied,” explains Bonnie Taub Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It. “The flavanols extracted from the cocoa bean help promote a healthy circulatory system. And studies have shown that almonds help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and raise HDL (good cholesterol).” 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt 1/2 cup skim milk 1/2 ripe banana 1/2 cup frozen raspberries 1 teaspoon sweetened, dark cocoa powder or CocoaVia 1 tablespoon almond butter 3 ice cubes Combine the above ingredients in a VitaMix or blender and mix for one minute.

Lisa DeFazio's Heart Healthy Smoothie “An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin improves blood vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart disease,” explains Los Angeles-based nutritionist Lisa DeFazio, RD. “Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis thanks to their vitamins C and E. Carrots are also rich in antioxidants, which help protect our cardiovascular system. “ 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 banana 1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup red grape juice 1/2 papaya 1/4 carrot juice Place all ingredients in a blender, blend, and enjoy!

Joy Bauer's Heart-Smart Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie “This sweet-tart smoothie unites two superfruits, blueberries and pomegranate, in one potent drink,” says Joy Bauer, Nutrition and Health Expert for the TODAY Show and founder of joybauer.com. “Both contain powerful antioxidants that help protect your heart and blood vessels from disease, and the berries contribute fiber to help lower cholesterol.” 3/4 cup frozen, unsweetened blueberries 1/2 cup 100 percent pomegranate juice 1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 3 to 5 ice cubes In a blender, combine the blueberries, pomegranate juice, yogurt, and lemon zest and juice, and blend until smooth. Add the ice cubes and blend until the ice is crushed.