Gear your body up for blood donation with these tips

World Health Organization(WHO) observes World Blood Donor Day on June 14 every year. Donating blood can save several lives and is also beneficial for your health. If you are planning to donate blood, remember to keep these points in mind.

If the donor doesn’t follow a proper diet, prior to and after donating blood, he/she can experience nausea, dizziness or even faint-heartedness. Here are some diet essentials to follow before and after the donation, reported The Quint.

Eat the right kind of foods

Removing RBCs from the body can deplete iron stores temporarily. So loading up on iron-rich foods like prunes, eggs, fish, liver and tomato juice are beneficial. Low iron in the body can result in fainting after donating blood.

Vitamin C facilitates better absorption of iron. So consuming iron-rich foods is not enough unless it’s followed up by some Vitamin C. Amla, and other citrus fruits should be included in your diet.

Also Read : World Blood Donor Day: Save lives, be a donor

Load up on fluids

Keep yourself hydrated. Dizziness and fainting is caused by low blood pressure and drinking plenty of fluids keeps the pressure stable. Water, juices, and lemon water are all helpful.

Keep drinking water before the day of the donation. Drink atleast 8 glasses the night before and atleast 3-4 glasses on the morning of the blood donation. Skip aerated drinks, colas, alcohol and caffeine completely for 24 hours before donating. Make sure to not drink coffee for atleast a couple of days after donation.  Caffeine acts as a diuretic and results in fluid loss.

Keep your blood pressure stable

Right after donating blood, it is advisable to up your blood sugar level. Refuel with water and a high sugar snack or a sweet. Along with the sweet, make sure to hydrate at the same time. Drinking plenty of water 24-48 hours after donation prevents the blood pressure from dropping.

Consume folic acid and carbohydrates after donation

Folic acid helps in manufacturing of new blood cells and should be regularly consumed after blood donation to replace the RBCs in the body. Folic acid is found in liver, dried beans, asparagus and almost all green, leafy vegetables.

Carbohydrates replenish your body with energy and can effectively fight fatigue post donation. Rice, bread and other grains are a good source of carbohydrates but avoid high fat food like potato chips, mayonnaise and fried food.

Lastly, never go to donate blood on an empty stomach. If you are going a long time after a meal, make sure to have a wholesome snack atleast 2-3 hours before donating to stabilise blood sugar. But do not eat right after donation as it may cause uneasiness and nausea.