Do you donate blood? A person who is healthy can donate every two months. This is such an important and easy way to celebrate your health and give to others. I encourage any of you who are in decent health to please, please do this often! People are relying on it. You can save 1-4 lives with every donation.  I do this every two months at cedars and they make it so easy and enjoyable. Plus, did you know that there’s a whole host of health benefits you get by donating blood? See the list below on what it’ll do for you and your body. Let’s give the best gift to our communities and neighbors this holiday season – the gift of life!

6 health benefits of donating blood: 

1. The joy of saving human lives:  It is such a wonderful feeling being able to help doctors save human lives. Every time you donate blood, you can help up to 3 or 4 individual recipients. It has to be one of the easiest ways to give something back to your community and potentially help other people and you can even be helping yourself if you are ever in need of blood.
2. Free Health Check-Up: (This is one of my favorites!) You can donate blood only if you are fit enough to do so. Before every blood donation process, a series of health check-ups are performed on the donor totally free of cost. This will be of great benefit to you. For example, you will come to know of any blood pressure abnormalities. That will help diagnose some of the indolent diseases at the early stage before they get flared up and present with multiple medical problems. Further, after the blood is donated, the blood and blood products that are derived from them are screened for certain infections. You can choose to be informed if they find any abnormality in those screening tests. Frequent blood donations are good free health check-ups that will help you stay healthy.
3. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease: Regular blood donations help to keep the levels of iron in the body in check, especially in males. This has shown to reduce heart disease. Though iron is an essential element for the proper functioning of the body, excessive iron build up can result in excessive oxidative damage. Oxidative damage is the major culprit implicated in accelerated ageing, heart attacks, strokes etc.
4. Burns Calories: One time blood donation helps you shed 650 Kcal.
5. Reduces the risk of cancer: High levels of iron have been implicated in cancer. Theoretically, donating blood frequently will reduce the risk of cancers.
6. Replenishes your blood: Replenishing blood is great for the body. Donation allows for the replenishment of the donor’s blood supply, which helps the donor’s body stay healthy, function more efficiently, and work productively.  Who wouldn’t want that??

Tip for the week: Find your local red cross or hospital and make an appointment to donate blood before the holidays. That’s the best gift you can give to others this holiday season!