Top Tips to Strengthen Your Immune System with Nitric Oxide

By Dr. Richard E. Collins, The Cooking Cardiologist and Science Advisor, Moonlight Beverage

It’s the first week of January, and everyone is racing back to the office in between dodging the Omicron variant, the flu, and potentially work itself. With the stress of returning to reality comes the impact the past couple of weeks has played on the immune system

Immune health is everywhere – but what does that mean? Products tout it at the grocery store, the pharmacy check-out line, and it's everywhere on social media.

The immune system is a complete network of cells and tissues that help the body fight off infection. For example, when exposed to a potential cold or illness, the immune system will stand up and protect the body from potential invaders, but once the immune system is compromised, the door slams and causes someone to not feel well.

Everyone’s immune system is susceptible right now after holiday parties, travel, and Covid-19 exposures, and that’s why it's essential to strengthen it now, so it isn’t weakened later this winter.

Here are a few tips to boost the immune system and get it into gear this January:

• Stay hydrated! Illness and disease are more prone to attack the body when dehydrated. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
• Boost nitric oxide levels through three amino acids known as L-Arginine, L-Citrulline, and Taurine. They work synergistically and create nitric oxide, which replenishes oxygen in the blood cells and opens the arteries for less constriction that allows the body to move more and increases performance and stamina.
• Eat the rainbow with more fruit and vegetables.
• Rest is essential, so be sure to get plenty of sleep.
• Review vitamins in the medicine cabinet. Ensure expiration dates and confirm with a physician on proper supplements that the body needs if mineral or vitamin deficient.

Personally, boosting nitric oxide levels has been vital to my overall immune health journey and story. Nitric oxide is a simple molecule - it’s small and can diffuse into cells. It is considered a signaling molecule, which means it can quickly form, rapidly diffuse, and dissipate, making it the perfect “messenger” molecule to the body.

Nitric oxide (NO) sends signals to the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. The body makes nitric oxide from L-Arginine's amino acid building blocks and its helpers, L-Citrulline and Taurine. For years, medical investigators had known about a factor causing the relaxation of the vascular muscle and arteries – now known as nitric oxide.

The net effect is that nitric oxide increases blood flow to the organs, relaxes the arteries in the lung, lowers blood pressure, and accelerates oxygen uptake. No wonder it’s referred to as the “miracle molecule!”

Additionally, nitric oxide is produced by neurons (nerve cells) and serves as a "neurotransmitter," and is essential for all nerve cells, brain, eyes, and smooth muscle action. NO is also produced by macrophages (the killer immunologic white blood cells) that engulf bacteria and destroy tumor cells by disrupting their metabolism.

Boosting one’s immune support is key to living a life full of vitality. And that’s why I support the scientific and patented blend of amino acids found in Wingman Smart Energy®. Not only does the functional beverage boost nitric oxide levels, but it also tastes great and delivers results.

Does your energy drink do that? If not, maybe it’s time to scan the pantry and gym and re-look at the current energy drink of choice this New Year. Cheers and to your health! Dr. Richard Collins