If you’re thinking about donating blood, congratulations, you’re doing an excellent service for the community. Yes, donating blood or plasma really matters, and it can be the difference between life and death for people in accidents or those having surgery.
We all have between 5 and 6 liters of blood, and when you donate some, they’ll take on average 0.450 milliliters, so you’ll be fine. Besides, it takes only 15 minutes. The question is, what foods should you eat before donating blood, and most importantly, which should you avoid? Here’s all about it.
Foods to Eat Before Donating blood
A few days before donating blood, you want to make sure you’re well-fed and some foods are more beneficial than others. For starters, make sure you’re hydrated, so drink plenty of water. After all, you’re about to lose some blood, and blood is mostly water. Dehydration is a severe condition, so make sure you’re safe.
You also want to eat iron-rich food, including red meat, seafood, leafy greens and legumes. There’s lots of iron in blood, so you want to provide your body all it needs to make some more blood after donating. Consuming food with vitamin C helps as well to maintain a robust immune system. Citrus fruits are a great source of it.
Foods to Avoid Before Donating Blood
Although no food will ruin your blood donation, you want to make sure you donate high-quality blood. This usually means avoiding cooking oil and saturated fats, so avoid all fried food, processed food, air-cured meats and junk food in general.
Salty food is also a big no-no as it will dehydrate you, and the same goes for diuretics, like coffee and tea. Obviously, avoid alcohol as well. Dairy, soybean products and eggs might slow down your iron consumption, so you’re better off avoiding them a few days before donating blood.
Other Things to Avoid Before Donating Blood
There are other things not food-related that you want to consider a few days before donating blood. After all, this is serious business, and you want to make sure you and the person receiving the plasma are safe.
Avoid smoking before donating blood. And if you can’t stop yourself, talk to your doctor before donating. Nicotine can increase your blood pressure, and you want to avoid that before and after donating.
Avoid taking aspirin as well, as it literally dilutes your blood and reduces the number of blood cells in your sample. Actually, avoid medication when possible.
When You Donate Blood, You Help Out A Lot!
Donating blood is easy and very helpful, and you’re rarely at risk of suffering side effects. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions to eat the right food and avoid what might harm you — after all, you can also ruin your blood donation!
Talk to your doctor before donating blood, and only do so voluntarily. Not everyone is eligible for donating blood, and there are many reasons why you can’t donate. Having said that, volunteering is encouraged. You never know when you or someone you know will need a transfusion.
