Blood donations can literally be a gift of life, but the donation process is designed to keep donors and the blood recipients safe. Donors get a mini physical when they donate and must be healthy on the day of donation. They also must meet certain weight requirement for donation. So, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for everyone who wants to donate blood.
Weight Requirements
You need to eat enough to be eligible to donate. As part of the screening process, you'll be asked how much you weigh. People over the age of 18 must be at least 110 lbs. to donate, and there are additional criteria for younger donors. To make a double red cell donation, men generally must weigh at least 130 lbs.and women must weigh at least 150.
Iron
During the screening process, donors also get their hemoglobin levels checked. A few drops of blood are drawn from a finger prick to make sure that you have adequate iron levels in your blood to donate. Iron, combined with certain proteins, becomes hemoglobin in red blood cells. It's not uncommon for people to be turned away because their iron levels are too low, so eating iron-rich foods prior to donation is important because these foods help promote blood regeneration. Make sure that your diet prior to donation time includes foods such as lean meats, eggs, whole grains, enriched breads, cereals, potatoes, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, legumes and molasses.
Day of Donation
Don't go to the donation site on an empty stomach. The American Red Cross and other donation organizations encourage donors to eat a healthy meal before donation. Get some extra fluids into your system, too. An extra 16 oz. of water or other liquids is recommended. Don't load up on fatty foods, such as hamburgers and ice cream, before you donate. All donated blood is tested for infection, and the fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating a fatty meal can affect those tests.
Foods After You Donate
Once you've given your donation, you're also encouraged to have little something to eat. Blood-donation sites are usually stocked with water, juice, cookies, crackers or other snacks to give you a little boost after your blood has been drawn. Donors are encouraged to spend 10 or 15 minutes in the snack area to make sure that they're feeling all right after the donation process. Drinking lots of fluids is important after the donation, too, to help replenish lost fluids.
