What to eat before and after blood donation and what not to eat?
blood donation is a relatively safe way to help people with serious illnesses or heavy bleeding. When you want to donate your blood to others, you must first take care of your own health. Because the human body needs a certain level of blood to be healthy, blood donation can lead to some side effects such as fatigue or anemia.
Eating the right foods and drinks before and after donating blood can lead to complications. Reduces various. Join us in this article from BingMag Meg to learn more about pre-donation nutrition and What to do after it.
What to eat and drink before donating blood?
If you want to donate blood, you should eat regularly before doing so so that your blood sugar stays stable and you do not feel light-headed or dizzy after donating blood. Eating a snack before donating blood helps keep your blood sugar levels steady.
In addition, since about 50% of your blood is made up of water, you should drink plenty of fluids before and after donating blood. . You also need to increase your iron intake. Because when you donate blood, you lose iron and lowering iron levels can cause fatigue.
Iron
The body needs iron to stay healthy. When you lose blood in any way or even donate blood, your body's iron levels drop. Iron is an important mineral that plays a role in the function of many organs and is used by the body to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
You must have a healthy hemoglobin level to be able to donate blood. Usually, men and women with hemoglobin levels of at least 12.5 and 13 grams per deciliter, respectively, can donate blood. Low hemoglobin is often a sign of iron deficiency in the diet. Of course, heavy menstrual bleeding and frequent blood donations can also help.
Following a balanced diet that is high in iron-rich foods can help replenish the body's iron stores. If your iron stores are not enough to make up for the iron you lose when you donate blood, you will develop iron deficiency anemia.
There are two types of iron in foods: heme iron and heme iron. Heme iron is more easily absorbed and therefore increases your iron levels more effectively. The body absorbs 30% of heme iron and only 2 to 10% of non-heme iron. Iron does not decrease. Heme-rich foods include:
- Red meat such as beef, veal and lamb
- Poultry such as chicken and turkey
- Seafood such as fish Tuna and Shrimp
- Liver
Iron Other found in the following foods:
- Vegetables such as spinach, sweet potatoes, peas and cabbage Broccoli
- Breads and cereals including fortified white breads, fortified breakfast cereals, whole grain breads, fortified pastas, wheat and oats Fruits such as strawberries, watermelons, dates, figs, prunes , Apricot leaf and peach leaf
- Legumes such as lentils and beans
Vitamin C
Although heme iron has a greater effect on the body's iron content, vitamin C can help increase the body's absorption of plant iron or non-heme iron. Many fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin C, such as cantaloupe, citrus, kiwi, kiwi, mango. li>
Water
About half of the blood you donate is water, so you need fluids Drink enough to keep your body hydrated. When you lose fluids during the blood donation process, your blood pressure will drop and you will feel weak and dizzy.
It is recommended to drink two glasses of water or other non-alcoholic beverages such as juice before donating blood. . This amount of water is recommended in addition to 9 to 13 glasses of fluids that you should drink normally every day. You can add a little lemon juice or orange juice to plain water to both make it taste better and increase your vitamin C intake.
It is also important that your body is well hydrated in the days leading up to blood donation. . This helps to replenish fluids lost during blood donation and return blood volume to normal.
What to Avoid?
Some foods and beverages can Have a negative effect on your blood. Therefore, before donating blood, you should avoid the following:
High-fat foods
High-fat foods such as ice cream, Donuts, fast food or French fries affect blood test results. If it is not possible for your blood to be tested for infectious diseases, it cannot be used for blood transfusions. Therefore, avoid high-fat foods on the day of blood donation.
Iron absorption reducers
Some foods and beverages affect the body's ability to absorb iron. You do not need to completely eliminate these foods from your diet, but it is best to avoid them with iron-rich foods or iron supplements. Foods that reduce iron absorption include:
- Coffee and tea
- Calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt
- Chocolate li>
Caffeine
Caffeine is a diuretic, which is why it is recommended that you limit your coffee and tea consumption just before and immediately after a blood donation. In addition, coffee and tea reduce the absorption of iron and it is better to pay attention to their consumption when planning to donate blood.
Alcohol
In addition to the many health problems they can cause, they can cause dehydration.
Aspirin
Do not take aspirin for 48 hours before doing so.
What foods and drinks should we eat after a blood donation?
after a blood donation, you will be given a light snack. Something to drink is given to stabilize fluid and blood sugar levels. You should also drink four extra glasses of water in the next 24 hours, in addition to the fluids you have always consumed.
Does blood donation have side effects?
Most people do not experience any side effects with blood donation. after donating blood, you will be asked to wait 10 to 15 minutes at the blood transfusion center to make sure you are feeling well.
Once you have your snack and drink, you can resume your daily activities. Come back. However, it is recommended that you avoid lifting heavy objects and strenuous exercise until the end of the day. This minimizes the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness and gives the body a chance to replenish fluids lost during blood donation.
If you donate blood frequently, consider the need for iron supplements. Talk to your doctor. It may take several months after your blood donation for your iron levels to return to normal. Research shows that taking iron supplements can significantly reduce this time.
Conclusion
blood donation is a great yet simple way to help the community . Because blood cannot be produced and must be provided by donors. The body's natural recovery process after donating blood is related to your nutrition. If you eat healthy and nutritious food and drink plenty of fluids on the day of the blood donation, the chances of side effects are minimized or you will not have any side effects. Having a healthy lifestyle not only helps donate blood, but also improves the overall quality of life.
This is purely educational and informational. Be sure to consult a specialist before using the recommendations in this article. For more information, read the BingMag Meg Disclaimer .Sources: healthline, blood, livestrong
