Montgomery-Floyd Chapter

 Office: 1000 N Main St
(YMCA building)
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: 540.443.3606
Fax: 540.443.3608
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Notice our new address, effective Thursday, February 14, 2008.

drop.gif (3416 bytes) NUTRITIONAL TIPS FOR BLOOD DONORS

Important tips for before and after giving blood!

  1. Immediately after donating blood, simple carbohydrates should be eaten to help increase blood sugar and provide energy.

    Examples are: orange juice, bagel or muffin or cookies
     
  2. Recovery from donating blood should include plenty of extra fluids for the next 24 hours.
     
  3.  Iron Replacement: important so you may want to include iron rich foods for the next several days after a blood donation.

    Examples are: fortified cereals, clams, oysters, prune juice, baked beans, molasses, baked potato skins and beef
     
  4. Vitamin C helps boost the absorbability of iron. Eating vitamin C rich foods will dramatically increase the amount of iron you get from the food. (Some foods interfere with iron absorption and should be avoided for a few days after a blood donation - such as tea, cranberries, soda, spinach and rhubarb.)


IRON FOR HEALTH


Why is IRON important for your body?

Not eating iron rich foods can cause your body to have a low iron reserve. Iron is needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. Every cell needs oxygen which is why we measure your hemoglobin level when you donate blood. Iron helps ensure a healthy immune system. The cells which fight infection and defend the body against foreign organisms depend on adequate stores of iron. Iron is also essential for making energy. It is essential in the chemical reactions that produce energy from food. So if your iron levels are low, your body may not be able to utilize all the energy available to it.
 

Document last modified 1-24-05
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