Going for Haj will probably be your most rewarding and life changing trip ever to take. However, performing Hajj can take a physical toll on your body if you did not take some precautions in advance. With millions of people packed in a restricted area infections can easily spread. Start yourself on a high dose of vitamin C supplement around two weeks before leaving for Haj and continue this dose until one week after your pilgrimage is complete. Vitamin C is the most important vitamin to help the body fight infections and reduce the duration of illness. Take as much as four to eight g of supplemental vitamin C in divided doses each day. Another vitamin to take is the anti-oxidant beta-carotene in the amount of 15,000 to 25,000 IU daily. These two vitamins will give your body a stronger defense against pollutants, and viral and bacterial infections. You need to strengthen your immune system to avoid illness. The best and most effective herbal supplement proven to boost immunity is echinacea. You can find echinacea in capsule form or as tea bags in the GNC. Pack a mixture of dried fruits to take with you to the pilgrimage. While in Makkah you will probably not have access to much fruits and due to overcrowding around bathrooms, you may develop constipation. So to prevent constipation eat some of your dried fruits every day to give you extra fiber, energy, and vitamins. Take dried apricots, prunes, dates, and almonds. Most Haj groups that provide accommodation serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And they usually have tea and coffee available. However, I strongly urge you to avoid drinking black tea and coffee while on your pilgrimage. Both tea and coffee are diuretics, meaning they increase the output of urine and will send you to the bathrooms more frequently, and the bathrooms are already too crowded and workers have trouble keeping up with the cleaning. Instead, you should drink enough fluids: water, lemonade, orange juice. For women, try to wear a white head scarf to reflect some of the sun's heat, and avoid heat stroke. It would be wise to tie a brightly colored armband on top of your abaya sleeve, like red or orange. That will make it easier for your family or group to spot you just in case you get pushed away from them. And ladies, remember if you are carrying a purse or handbag and you drop it in the midst of a mob, never bend down to retrieve it or you could get trampled. It is best to keep belongings in pockets under your ababya. We wish you a healthy journey, acceptance, and safe return to your homes.
