If you find yourself in any of the sub-Saharan countries in Africa including Ghana during December, you are in for a treat. Many foreigners and diasporans who come to Ghana during December to celebrate Christmas with their family and friends find themselves battling with the effects of harmattan.
Harmattan in Ghana usually lasts from mid-November to mid-March, and is full of dryness and dust, heat, dry skin and chapped lips. In order to prevent yourself from having a bad experience in Ghana during the harmattan, there are some important practices that you need to make sure you follow to the teeth.
First and foremost, you must drink lots of water. Studies show that drinking water helps to regulate the body’s temperature, prevents constipation, prevents dehydration, and help in maintaining skin health. Drinking water during harmattan helps your skin to stay hydrated and maintains your body temperature. In the heat of harmattan, it is important to have your body temperature regulated regularly, to avoid skin conditions such as skin rashes that occur due to heat.
Growing up, our mothers always made sure that the house was fully stocked with shea butter in preparation for the harmattan season. Apart from drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, and regulate your body temperature, don’t forget to stock your house with shea butter. Shea butter helps to keep the skin hydrated and soft. It is no surprise to often see children with shiny faces and skin during this season – trust mothers to know the secret of using shea butter for skin pomade.
Wear face masks! As much as you may feel uncomfortable for wearing face masks during this season, it is for the best. Harmattan comes with dust, particles and diseases like catarrh. You would not want to spend your Christmas battling with catarrh, so it is important that you wear face masks to save yourself from catarrh and other respiratory diseases that come with this season.
Next, eat healthy! You cannot stay healthy and boost your immune system by not eating healthy. Reduce the intake of junk foods, carbonated drinks and any other unhealthy foods. Let your diet be full of vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates – in essence, eat a balanced diet. This season comes with diseases and you need a strong immune system to fight diseases; it can only be gotten through eating healthy. You may take vitamin C to help boost your immune system.
Of all the tips, do not hesitate to see a doctor when you are feeling very uncomfortable, especially if you are unable to breathe properly. Visiting the doctor is always the best approach in the wake of any health related issues. They are skilled enough to recommend what to do when having certain complications.
Note that these tips are just a few of the many tips you can practice during harmattan. They help ease your experience during this season and you don’t have to necessarily follow them strictly.
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