Cold Buster Green Smoothie (How to Fight a Cold) – Oh Sweet Basil

This cold buster green smoothie recipe is packed with fresh fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system, hydrate your body and send those winter colds packing!

Green smoothies were all the rage a while ago and still are, but I never really thought they were that big of a deal. And then I realized that with all of those vitamins packed into a smoothie we would actually be giving ourselves the proper nutrition that we are recommended in getting. So, we started keeping a full supply of spinach and fruits and sure enough, not only did we start feeling better but we weren’t getting sick.

I hate winter. I know, lots of people love it and cannot wait to get outside and enjoy all that the snow has to offer, but I hate it. Strong word? I seriously dislike it I guess. I am learning to really enjoy skiing, but I still freeze to death and cannot last very long out there. But the major reason I don’t like winter is because we all get sick and pass it around over and over again all winter long. I freeze all winter which I’m sure keeps me sick.

You don’t have to pass a cold around all winter. Last year we cracked down and learned how to fight a cold and this cold buster green smoothie was a huge help! Keep scrolling to the end to see other products we love to help us survive winter colds.

What Makes a Green Smoothie?

The definition of a “green smoothie” can be quite ambiguous but the basics of a green smoothie are:

Leafy Greens + Liquid + Fruit

Then, of course, you can add other ingredient to add protein and more nutrients. Keep scrolling below to see suggestions for the best types of leafy greens, liquids and fruits. We also want to highlight what makes this recipe specifically a cold buster green smoothie.

Ingredients in a Cold Buster Green Smoothie

This smoothie is unique in that we chose specific items to kick the cold right where it hurts:

• Spinach: adds great fiber, vitamins and nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K as well as iron, folate and potassium
• Orange Juice: isn’t just about the vitamin C it’s also about staying hydrated
• Orange with Peel: really slam dunk the vitamin C and the peel contains 4 times more fiber than the fruit itself, it has anti-inflammatory properties and may even help reduce harmful LDL’s
• Baby Carrots: great for killing germs in the mouth and helping with digestion
• Banana: gives the body natural energy which is something you are lacking when sick, and it helps the smoothie be extra creamy
• Frozen Pineapple: adds flavor and helps thicken the smoothie when it’s frozen
• Apple: adds flavor and natural sweetness
• Ice: helps thicken the smoothie without adding sugar or extra calories
• Optional: add a scoop of protein so our body has the nutrition needed for energy

NOTE: We avoid dairy completely as it encourages mucus production. In fact, we skip the dairy entirely while sick.

The measurements for all of these ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make a Cold Buster Green Smoothie

Making the best green smoothie recipe couldn’t be easier! Just toss everything in the blender and blend until smooth. We are 100% loyal to our Blendtec blender. I’ve tried them all, and there just nothing that gets the job done better than Blendtec. Use our discount code (Ohsweetbasil10) for 10% off!

I’ve read other people say do blend the greens and liquid together first before adding the fruit, but I honestly haven’t noticed a difference so I just add evereything at once.

Variations and Substitutes

For a true cold buster smoothie follow the recipe as written, but you can totally switch things up to find your favorite blend. Here are some ideas:

Leafy Greens to Use

• Spinach
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Collard Greens
• Beet Greens

Liquids to Use

• Almond Milk
• Coconut Milk or Coconut Water
• Oat Milk
• Dairy Milk
• Water
• Fruit Juices
• Cashew Milk
• Soy Milk
• Greek Yogurt

Fruits to Use

• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Avocado
• Banana
• Raspberries
• Mango
• Blueberries
• Apple

Add-Ins

• Protein Powders
• Chia Seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Almonds
• Collagen Powder
• Almond Butter
• Peanut Butter

Can You Use Frozen Fruits in Green Smoothies?

Yes, and you absolutely should! In fact, almost all my fruit for smoothies and my greens are frozen when I add them to my smoothie. Check out my post on how to meal prep smoothies. It not only saves time but it also helps my mornings be more stress free!

Can Green Smoothies Replace Vegetables?

Smoothies are a great way to get the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables but they shouldn’t replace whole fruits and vegetables. Blending vegetables actually starts to break them down and you lose some of the nutrients that you would get if you ate them whole. Bottom line…don’t skip the whole veggies!

Can You Taste Spinach in Green Smoothies?

If you have the proper ratio of leafy greens to other ingredients, you will not be able to taste the spinach at all! Follow this recipe for the best flavor!

Is a Green Smoothie Good for You?

Drinking Cold Buster Green Smoothies is a good way to get nutrients and stay hydrated. Consuming Cold Buster Green Smoothies is a good way to get vegetables in your diet.

But, there’s a catch…you have to watch your fruit intake as they still have sugar and carbs so people can take something healthy to not so healthy. Making a healthy smoothie takes some attention and conscientiousness.

Will Cold Buster Green Smoothies Give Me Energy?

Cold Buster Green Smoothies can provide you with lots of healthy calories, that your body can convert to energy.

Can Cold Buster Green Smoothies Be Frozen?

Yes, Cold Buster Green Smoothies can be easily frozen.  I recommend taking it out of the freezer to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Most likely, it will still be frozen in the morning. Set the jar on the counter and it will thaw in about an hour or so.

Will a Green Smoothie Keep Overnight?

Yes! You can blend your cold buster green smoothies ahead of time and store your cold buster green smoothies in a sealed container for 1 to 3 days in the fridge. … Fresh is always best, but a 2-day old cold buster green smoothie is still way better than a bag of the Cheetos.

How to Fight a Cold

Air Purifier 

We went ahead and got a Honeywell Air Purifier. One is upstairs and the other downstairs. They run day and night all year round and I swear it’s been helping to keep out the nasty.

Simply Saline

Cade cannot handle a Netty Pot but many people love it. Instead we use Simply Saline. As soon as you feel the sniffle get out your saline and keep things cleaned out. You’d be shocked how much it will help. We even use the Little Remedies one for kids and it has blown our minds with how much better they get with it.

Zicam Nasal Spray

I hate nasal spray. I also hate taking those nasty vitamin c or zinc tablets to fight a cold. And do they even work? I wasn’t feeling like they were. Until I found Zicam Nasal Spray. Immediately when I get the tickle I take it and Cade is quickly following suit as he sees how well it works. I even travel with it now. It’s the only clinically proven nasal spray to shorten a cold.

Aquafor

Blowing your nose and a stuffed up nose that requires you to breath from your mouth all day can lead to chapped noses and lips. I love this little Aquafor tube. It’s all I use for chapstick now, but it’s great on noses that are being blown too much too.

All of this just comes from Amazon to my house and most is around $4. I’m lazy like that, but you can always watch a store for sales too.

And that’s it! What little tricks do you have to beating the winter colds? Green smoothies are a great way to start your day in a healthy way, and if you are trudging through bleak winter days trying to fight the latest cold bug, give this cold buster green smoothie a try!

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