Donating Blood is a win-win for everyone
Recipients get a vital substance and donors get to burn calories, lower their risk of cancer, and keep their heart healthy. All this while laying back and taking a relaxing 15 minutes to do a good deed and save lives!
Giving blood can reveal potential health problems
Donating blood can be another way to keep an eye on your cardiovascular health. You will receive a mini-physical prior to the blood draw, in which someone will check your pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin and more. This can sometimes shed light on issues you did not even know about.
Giving blood may lower your risk of suffering a heart attack
Donating blood at least once a year could reduce your risk of a heart attack by 88%, according to a study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology. High levels of iron in the blood constrict your blood vessels and create more risk of a heart attack, depleting those extra iron depos its by donating blood gives your vessels more room to operate.
Even more Health & Lifestyle Benefits
Burning calories
Unfortunately, blood donation will not become a weight loss fad any time soon. However, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have found that you can lose up to 650 calories per pint of blood donated. That is not a bad deal for kicking back and doing a good deed.
Prevents hemochromatosis
Health benefits of blood donation include reduced risk of hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is a health condition that arises due to excess absorption of iron by the body.
Anti-cancer benefits
Blood donation MAY help in lowering the risk of cancer. By donating blood, the iron stores in the body are maintained at healthy levels. A reduction in the iron level in the body is linked with low cancer risk.
Stimulates blood cell production
After donating blood, the body works to replenish the blood loss. This stimulates the production of new blood cells and in turn, helps in maintaining good health.