Alva Review-Courier -

Memorial Day in this area was cloudy and overcast with intermittent light rain. Television newscasters said many of the usual Memorial Day ceremonies were canceled this year due to concerns about crowds gathering.

The Memorial Day observance at the Alva Municipal Cemetery was held as normal at the flagpole. A small crowd gathered in a circle under the trees to watch the presentation of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 392. A benediction and speech followed. Just as the speech was concluding, a light sprinkle of rain began. About the only things different were the lack of the usual donuts and the appearance of a few people wearing masks.

By the way, the Alva cemetery has a new wall map showing how to find burial plots. It was donated by a local funeral home and is located in the covered pavilion, which is north on Flag at the cemetery.

I chose to decorate graves on Sunday. It was much better weather, and I saw a lot of people out on the same task. My brother in Missouri said he and other family members traveled to the cemetery where our parents and grandparents are buried on Saturday.

I conversed with my niece in the Phoenix, Arizona, area over the weekend. She provided a glimpse of what life is like now in a heavily populated area. I told her Woods County has only three confirmed, since recovered cases of COVID-19. In her county, they’ve had over 8,000 cases with 368 deaths. She said they do grocery pick-ups at a couple of stores. The only place they feel safe shopping is at Costco where everyone is required to wear a mask.

She’s been working from home. Her mother is in long-term care and having a hard time with the no visits policy. Her mother tested positive for COVID-19 earlier and was moved to quarantine although she had no symptoms. She’s had two negative tests and is back in her own room, but several in her unit have died.

In Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan for the reopening of Oklahoma, Phase 3 is scheduled to begin on June 1. No details have been listed as far as I can find. Hopefully, we’ll learn more this week. Although more businesses are open, some are still closed. Tuesday morning I saw a man trying the locked doors at a local bank.

Boosting Immunity

Whether you’re looking for ways to avoid colds or more serious illnesses like the coronavirus, building up your body’s immune system makes sense for all of us. The June Good Housekeeping magazine has an article listing some of the ways to improve your immunity.

First, you need to prioritize sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep. Teens should get nine or ten, and kids in elementary school need ten or more hours a night. While you sleep, your immune system releases chemicals your body needs in order to fight off an infection. Sleep less, and your body produces less of these chemicals.

Move your body. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and makes it easier to get a good night’s sleep. Studies suggest that moderate physical activity may decrease the rates of infection for viruses, including the flu and pneumonia, and also bacterial diseases.

Try to chill out. When you’re under stress, your body lowers activation of less immediately essential functions such as the immune response. Stress can lower your white cell count over time. The article suggests meditation, journaling and self-reflection or deep breathing to help lower stress.

Get some vitamin C. It’s a powerful antioxidant that seems to have a beneficial impact on the immune system. Some of the best food sources of vitamin C are citrus, strawberries, sweet potatoes and red bell peppers. Other fruits and vegetables provide C along with other important vitamins and phytonutrients. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 75 to 90 mg per day. People who smoke should get more.

Avoid drinking alcohol excessively. Frequent alcohol use significantly weakens our immune system. It messes with the function of immune cells in the upper airways, for example. One drink a day for women and two for men is considered moderate, according to the CDC.

Other suggestions in the article include probiotic foods (yogurt, sauerkraut and other fermented foods), protein from meat, shellfish and legumes (chickpeas, beans, lentils, peas), nuts which contain vitamin E (almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, nut butters, etc.) and plenty of water.