HARMATTAN: 12 STEPS TO STAY HEALTHY THIS HARMATTAN SEASON

Hey! dear Gotea blog readers, it is the harmattan season again, usually know with dryness and so much dust in the atmosphere. Here we will give you 12 steps to stay healthy this harmattan season and avoid the common sicknesses that comes with the season.

Cold, dry and dusty air is what the harmattan season is known for. The surroundings is usually dusty with outbreak of Flu and dryness of skin which leads to crack skin. Most people experience cough & sore throat which is due to the dry dusty air inhaled from the surroundings. Also, dry skin and broken lips are common during this harmattan season.

In addition, the weather makes people susceptible to flu & cold and although the body has adaptive mechanisms that help reduce the effects, it is only wise to take good care of ourselves in order to prevent infections and stay healthy.

 

12 STEPS TO STAY HEALTHY THIS HARMATTAN SEASON

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Because of the extreme dryness of the air, It is of utmost importance to increase fluid intake this period to reduce dehydration. While going out or in the office or wherever you find yourself, ensure you have a bottle of water with you at all times to increase the motility of mucus.

Warm tea like Peppermint Tea or Arabian Tea will help provide you with warmth to fight cold. It is strongly recommended to drink at least 4 to 6 glasses of water per day to stay healthy and hydrated this harmattan season.

 

2. Drink Turmeric Ginger Tea with Honey & fresh lemon juice

Turmeric Ginger Tea, Honey & fresh Lemon juice is a natural remedy which soothe the dry irritated areas of the throat and give you the comfort you need, this combination also relief sore throat and cough and keeps you warm. Turmeric, Ginger, Honey & Lemon individually has great health benefits. In synergy it is an effective or instant relief for cold and cough.If you are on a KETO diet use compliant sweetener as a substitute for honey

 

3. Bathe With Lukewarm Water:

Oh yes, you heard it right! Lukewarm Water 💦 The mornings are really cold and having a shower with cold water never an option; however, on the contrary, hot water isn’t also an advisable option for you as it strips the skin of its natural oil barrier, thus resulting in dryness and itching. Hence, opt for lukewarm water. Skin care experts recommend short, warm showers or baths that last no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

 

4. Eat Plenty of Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals which are essential to stay healthy and hydrated during these harmattan season. They contain a high water and vitamins content, which helps to reduce dehydration & dryness of skin caused by the dry air this harmattan season. The fruit also helps fight infections and build immunity against a chronic cough and other infections associated with common cold.

 

5. Take Products That Boost Your Immune System

Research shows that the Harmattan dust particles affect negatively the health of the people causing the respiratory disease to adults and children. Health cases such as cough, catarrh, and respiratory disease are mostly reported in the hospitals during the Harmattan season.

Because there is little amount of water in the atmosphere(low humidity), this increases the spread of infections or diseases. It is strongly recommended to take Products That Boost your Immunity to be able to fight these common diseases.

Foods like citrus fruits, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, turmeric, papaya, green tea help boost your immune system and hence help prevent infections these harmattan season. Most herbs stated here are major ingredients in the production of Gotea Immunity Tea

 

6. Exfoliate Your Skin

Exfoliation is a process of removal of the oldest dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. Exfoliating your skin a few times a week will help shave off dead and dry skin cells and allow new skin cells to come up.

Make sure you use a gentle body scrub like sugar or coffee twice a week. Note however, that if over exfoliation occurs, your skin’s oils will still be depleted, and because of the dry harmattan weather, dry skin may eventually occur.

 

7. Wear The Right Clothes

Wearing the right clothes in this harmattan season helps to prevent common infections or diseases that spread during this season. Thick and heat absorbable clothes keep heat released from the body trapped inside and limit radiation of heat to the surroundings. Hand gloves and well-covered shoes also provide enough warmth that you need.

 

8. Choose Safe Products

The harmattan season is not the time to use harsh content on your skin like high alcohol or astringent content face cleansers or hand washes as this will strip your skin off its natural oils.

Hand Sanitizers are also not good during this harmattan season, however, because of the need to always wash and sanitize your hands because of Covid19, it is recommended to always oil your hands to avoid dry skin.

Also, opt for mild products such as a moisturizing body wash, a cleanser that contains ceramides (fatty molecules that make up the outer barrier of your skin) as they help the skin hold in moisture and an oil based body lotion such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter; you can even moisturize using shea-butter or olive oil.

 

9. Skin Care

People usually develop cracked lips and skin during this harmattan period. The following can help protect the integrity of your skin and prevent dryness.Good body moisturizers can be used to prevent dryness of the skin. They are easily absorbable and increase the hydration of the skin. Other home-made moisturizers are:

Olive oil & Coconut oil:

This contains many fatty acids and healthy fat that are good for your skin. You can apply this to the skin after taking your bath to reduce skin dryness. Use also coconut oil to fry and to mix your meals after cooking with Olive oil.

Creams with milk content:

Are excellent moisturizers as they help to exfoliate dry skin and give room for the rejuvenation of new skin cells to replace worn ones.

Also you can apply coconut oil Or Shea butter to your skin after taking your bath. It is absorbable and it makes your skin smooth, soft and healthy this harmattan season.

 

10. Eat Healthy Fats

Not all types of fat are bad for you. There are healthy fats you can consume without the fear of excess cholesterol and also can be heart-healthy. Healthy fats give you energy. You can get healthy fat from polyunsaturated fats such as in nuts, seeds, almond oils ,Coconut oil and fatty fish.

Avocados are also a great source of healthy fats.

 

11. Drink Healthy Tea Always

Healthy Herbal Teas are loaded with antioxidants which fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are compounds that can cause harm if their levels become too high in your body. They’re linked to multiple illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

A cup of fresh, hot healthy tea don’t only provide your body with antioxidants, it also seem just the thing when you’re nursing a cold. But you don’t have to wait until you have one to drink it.

Drink Herbal teas that contain garlic like Immunity Tea. Scientists think garlic has some things in it that may fight the common cold. They’re still figuring out how exactly, but early studies are promising. However it works, it’s a good excuse to toss in a few extra teabags.

 

12. Remember Your Hands, Feets and Lips

One of the worst things about harmattan is the dry lips, hands and feet that comes with it, this makes moisturizing of utmost importance this harmattan season.

Your hands, feets and lips are the most vulnerable areas of your body during the harmattan season. As a result, you need to take extra care of these areas as we tend to swipe out the moisture from them very frequently, like when we eat, or visit the bathroom or change shoes/walk barefoot.

To maintain a soft and succulent lips, hands and feets this harmattan season it is necessary not to leave your house without a lip balm and your hand lotion handy.

Conclusion

Foods like beans, carrots, tomatoes and peas with anti-oxidants and omega3 fatty acids e.g. salmon help to repair damaged cells and contribute to a moisturized and glowing skin

Doing all these will go a long way to help you stay healthy this harmattan season.