Impressive Health Benefits of Donating Blood

Donating blood and staying healthy go hand in hand; thousands of people require blood every day in India but face a dilemma as the number of donators is comparatively less. Only one blood donation can save three lives.

Apart from regular blood donation one can also donate platelets which are done through a machine which filters the platelets and transports the blood back to the donor. This whole process takes around 70-90 minutes whereas a non-platelet donation takes only 45 minutes. Blood donors are supposed to 18 or above and are permitted to donate blood till 60 years of age in India.

Many are unaware that the process of blood donation is beneficial for both parties. Let's talk about some health benefits of donating blood:

1.Reduces the Risk Of Cancer

One of the great benefits of Donating blood is, It can reduce the risk of cancer as the reduction of iron and iron stones in our body prevents the damage iron has been said to cause. According to a study published in the the Journal of the National Cancer Institute iron has been believed to increase free radical damage in our body and aging. A research conducted showed that a group of people who donated twice a year reduced their iron stores twice whereas another non donor group did not. The former group showed lower signs of cancer. The donation of blood is linked to the reduction in oxidative stress which is harmful.

2. Protects and Preserves your Cardiovascular Health

A unifying factor for the risk of cardiovascular diseases is blood viscosity according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. The damage done to your cells lining the arteries can be determined by how sticky and thick your blood is and how much friction is created through the vessels. The other benefits of Donating blood is, it decreases the blood viscosity and gets rid of the iron that could oxidize our blood. Oxidative stress damages our cardiovascular system. Blood donation also decreases the risk of hearts attacks and strokes specially participants aged between 43 & 61.

3. Calorie Burn

According to the University of California, One donation of blood can burn approximately 650 calories. A regular donor can lose a significant amount of weight but this is not a means of weight loss plan at all. In India, 50 kgs are the minimum weight required to donate blood. The donor should also maintain healthy iron levels in their body.

4.Free Blood Check-Up

Before donating; donors are tested for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis and other diseases. Without testing, one cannot be eligible to donate blood as it is necessary to know what is in your bloodstream. Your blood can also be used for tests and research in the future upon your consent. So, here is one more benefits of donating blood, you can get your blood tested for free.

Prepared by Tanya Kathuria of Newsgram; Twitter: @TanyaKathuria97