Do You Lose Weight When Donating Blood?

8 Surprising Benefits of Donating Blood

8 Surprising Benefits of Donating Blood

Updated on 12/4/2024
Martin AlvarezBy Martin Alvarez
Nutritionist/Dietitian Professional Guide
Learn More about Martin Alvarez

You can do a straightforward thing that can save lives and improve your health simultaneously.

Donating Blood has Eight Surprising Benefits

The importance of donating blood to others is probably something you already know. According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. Depending on the accident's severity, it can take up to 100 pints of blood to save the life of one car accident victim. In addition, patients who have sickle cell disease or cancer may require blood transfusions during treatment. The fact that blood cannot be manufactured means that these people depend on blood donors to survive. 

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However, what are the health benefits of donating blood to a person? and do you lose weight when donating blood?  I am sure you will be surprised to learn that you get more than a sense of pride when doing such a thing. Don't eat that; eat this instead! The purpose of this article is to present you with some of the reasons why it is essential to consider blood donation; health talked to a doctor and scoured the medical journals.

1-Reducing The Amount Of Iron In The Body

Reduce Iron Overload

Reduce Iron Overload

 

An estimated one in 200 people in the U.S. is affected by hemochromatosis, a severe chronic disease that occurs when the body absorbs too much iron into the bloodstream.

While we need a certain amount of protein, over time, it may build up to unhealthy levels that cause deposits in the heart or liver
Says Dr. Joshua Mansour MD, a board-certified hematologist, and oncologist. There are several ways in which you can reduce the amount of iron in your body by giving blood regularly.

2-Take Care of Your Blood Cells by Replenishing Them

Replenish Your Blood Cells

Replenish Your Blood Cells

 

It might sound a bit backward at first but stay with us. As soon as you donate blood, your body goes into overdrive to produce new blood cells to replenish what you have given. As a result, your bone marrow receives a message that your oxygen levels are lower (due to the loss of red blood cells), so your body boosts the production of blood cells in your bone marrow to compensate for the lower oxygen levels.

3-Heart Attacks are At a Lower Risk As A Result of This Lifestyle

Lower Risk of Heart Attacks

Lower Risk of Heart Attacks

 

There are many health benefits associated with giving blood. A study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who donate blood are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who do not. In part, this might be attributed to the reduction of iron in the body and to the fact that is donating increases blood flow, which makes it less damaging to blood vessels.

4-Taking Steps To Reduce Your Cancer Risk

Lower Your Cancer Risk

Lower Your Cancer Risk

 

According to a report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Association, several studies have demonstrated that people who donate blood regularly have a lower risk of developing cancer than their non-donor peers. In some studies, researchers have found that certain types of cancers associated with high iron storage stores (such as colon and liver cancers) have been reduced in those who have given blood, suggesting a link between blood donation and cancer prevention.

5-Calorie Burn

Burn Calories

Burn Calories

 

In addition to helping you lose weight, donating blood can give you a boost as well—you can burn about 650 calories every time you donate a pint, according to the University of California-San Diego. That's about the same time as jumping rope for 50 minutes. You burn many calories; donating blood shouldn't be the main reason you do so, but it sure is a nice perk.

6-Make Sure Your Liver Is Healthy

Keep Your Liver Healthy

Keep Your Liver Healthy

 

There is no doubt in my mind that blood donation is good for your health. When your blood is overloaded with iron, your liver suffers, and giving blood is one of how you can combat this. According to one study, there has been a link between excess iron and Hepatitis C, liver cancer, and other nasty infections. There is no cure for iron overload, but donating blood can help deplete some excess iron from your body and prevent it from accumulating in your liver too much.

7-Find Out If There Are Any Potential Health Issues

Reveal Potential Health Issues

Reveal Potential Health Issues

 

There are several ailments that blood donors are tested for, including anemia, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Zika Virus, and many others. This is to ensure that you have a healthy blood supply and that it is safe to use in a transfusion, but it also gives you a chance to discover if you have a health problem that needs to be addressed.

8-If You Want To Make The World A Better Place, You Can Do So For Free

You Can Make the World a Better Place—for Free

You Can Make the World a Better Place—for Free

 

The cost of life-saving is zero, so why would you not do it?

The worst things you can do for your health, According to doctors, should not be missed if you want to live your happiest and healthiest life possible. So we answered the question do you lose weight when donating blood? Besides other many healthy benefits.