What to Eat Before & After Donating Blood?

Blood donation can lead to weakness and side effects like anaemia and fatigue. Therefore, it is essential to consume the right food items and fluids before and after donating blood to avoid health issues. 

Keep reading to learn what to eat after donating blood and the foods to consume before it.

Firstly, keeping yourself hydrated  before and after blood donation is very important. Individuals should drink plenty of water or fresh juices to replenish the loss of fluid due to blood donation. The recommended consumption level is nearly two cups before donating blood and 9-13 cups daily to keep the body healthy and active.

Now, here are some suggestions on what to eat before blood donation.

1. Iron-Rich Food

Iron is an essential mineral that helps form haemoglobin. This component aids in oxygen transportation from the lungs to different organs in the human body. 

Ideally, there are two variants of iron found in food, i.e., non-heme and heme iron. The human body absorbs nearly 30% of heme iron and up to 10% non-heme.

Food items rich in heme iron include -

• Meat- ham, pork, dried beef and veal
• Poultry- Eggs, chicken or turkey
• Seafood- mackerel, shrimp, tuna, and clams 
• Liver

Food items rich in non-heme iron include-

• Vegetables- sweet potatoes, spinach, string beans, collards, broccoli, etc
• Bread and cereal- whole wheat bread, cornmeal, oats, enriched pasta and rice,etc.
• Fruits- watermelon, figs, strawberries, dried apricots, etc.
• Beans- dried peas, tofu, lentils, etc.

A deficiency in these components can cause anaemia. Hence, it is beneficial to consume iron-rich foods before donating blood.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential component that helps the body absorb non-heme iron. One can find multiple citric fruits in their local market, which are good sources of vitamin C.

These include -

• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi Fruit
• Cranberries
• Papaya
• Mango
• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

Besides, taking prescribed iron capsules beforehand will help restore the iron deficiency after donation. This is an excellent remedy to avoid fatigue caused after donating blood.

Now, let’s check the suggestions on what to eat after blood donation to avoid health issues.

After donating blood, individuals should keep themselves hydrated and eat a light snack. This would help stabilise the fluid levels and blood sugar.

• It is recommended to drink at least four cups of water in the 24 hours following blood donation. However, individuals should avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
• Eating a light snack is always beneficial as it helps restore energy. This snack should be nutritious and healthy. For instance, one can eat fruits, brown bread, eggs, etc.
• Opt for food items high in folic acid as it helps restore blood cells. Spinach, sprouts, broccoli, avocado, nuts and oilseeds are rich sources of folic acid.

Now that you know what to eat after you donate blood, you can consult a doctor or dietician regarding what to avoid after donating blood.

This would remove risks like fainting, weakness or other health issues. For instance, individuals with a medical history should donate blood under a doctor’s supervision.

After donating blood, individuals should sit in the observation area and rest. It is beneficial to wait for at least fifteen minutes to stabilise the blood loss.

Being impatient and leaving immediately after donating blood can lead to significant health issues. Here are certain things to avoid after donating blood-

• Participating in strenuous physical activities
• Lifting heavy weights for hours
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• Not informing a physician when feeling lightheaded
• Hiding medical history
• Drinking caffeinated beverages and alcohol
• Eating junk food after donating blood
• Taking aspirin or high dosage medications

A nurse may check a blood donor’s vitals and RBC count before inserting a sterile needle to draw blood. This is when any health issue due to improper diet may show up.

Additionally, blood donors should keep a tab over the bodily changes after donating blood. For instance, they should contact the blood donation centre if they have a fever for a week or more after blood donation.

Individuals should keep their bandages intact after donating blood and consult a medical practitioner if they have bleeding. They can apply cold packs if bruising occurs.

It is righteous to inform the department when diagnosed with covid after blood donation. This practice can prevent the spreading of the virus.

Hopefully, this discussion will help you understand what to eat after donating blood and prior. Blood donation is a noble act that should be practised and preached by healthy individuals.