Donating blood is a selfless and noble act, not to mention incredibly beneficial for the patient and their family. But giving blood is a huge sacrifice. Before you even start donating, you should also focus on your health by knowing what to eat before and after donating. That way, you won’t feel fatigued while your body is trying to replenish the blood you just donated. Let’s look at what you should eat before you donate and what you should eat after donating blood.
Best Foods To Eat Before Donating Blood
If you’re donating blood, it’s vital to eat healthily and stay hydrated before the appointment. Doing so ensures that your body receives the right nutrients and vitamins it needs to recover quickly after donating. As a reminder, you can eat at least a light meal before donating blood. It doesn’t need to be a full meal, but anything will help.
Iron-Rich Food
Iron is the most important mineral in the formation of red blood cells. It helps deliver oxygen to all body parts. If your haemoglobin count is too low, you will feel weak and tired throughout the day. To ensure that your haemoglobin count is normal and that you replenish the blood lost in the donation, you should eat iron-rich food. Try foods like lentils, spinach, beans and whole grains. You can also take iron supplements.
Protein
Protein is the main building block of the human body. It repairs and replaces the old worn-out cells and tissues. Donating blood is stressful for your body, which is why it needs protein to regenerate cells and tissues. Your body will use the protein in the foods you eat to repair the red blood cells as well as build new ones. Eat protein in your meals, like eggs, fish, poultry and meat. If you’re a vegetarian, choose soy products and quinoa.
Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Before donating blood, you should boost your intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C is crucial for tissue repair and the formation of red blood cells. It also boosts the immune system supporting your body’s ability to fight off infections and illness. Foods rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, berries and kohlrabi.
Best Foods To Eat After Donating Blood
You will feel like you’ve fallen from a building, but it’s not just because of the blood loss. Dehydration is also a serious risk after you donate blood. It’s your body’s response to water loss. This is why you should eat something after donating blood to replenish the water in your body.
Foods Rich in Potassium
Potassium helps our bodies maintain fluid balance. It also helps regulate blood pressure and heartbeats. To replenish what you just lost from donating blood, potassium-rich foods are essential. Potassium-rich foods help replenish the fluids in your body. Bananas, avocados, mangos, potatoes, oranges and spinach are good sources of potassium.
Drink Plenty of Water
It is essential to drink plenty of water after donating blood. You will lose a lot of fluid, which endangers your health. Drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water a day. This will not only replenish the water you lost but also flush out the fluids released by the body during blood donation.
Iron-Rich Foods
As you can see, iron is quite important in the body, and after donating blood, it’s essential to replenish the iron you lost. This can be done by eating food rich in iron like eggs, legumes and whole grains.
Conclusion
If you are planning to donate blood anytime soon, don’t worry too much about it. The most important thing to do is eat healthily and avoid being too stressed out. Just make sure you’re hydrated and replenish the blood you lost.
It’s not every day you get to save lives. But donating plasma and blood is a great way to save lives and keep your body healthy. That’s what thplasma is here for. We give you the opportunity to help others whenever you visit our centre. Your donated plasma will be turned into life-saving therapies. Become a donor today and get paid to donate plasma!