Blood donations are vital to the health and welfare of our community. Your iron level (hemoglobin) will be tested before you donate blood, so you may be pleasantly surprised to discover it is high enough to donate. If your iron level doesn’t meet the minimum requirement to donate, which is 12.5, don’t fret!
Some people are more likely to have this issue, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, but making simple changes to your diet can boost your blood iron levels.
Lengthy lists of iron-rich foods can be found on many internet websites.The cartoon character Popeye was onto something with his spinach — leafy, green vegetables are a good source of iron, particularly from the cabbage family. Stock up on broccoli, kale, turnip and collard greens, and you’ll be ready to donate in no time.
If you’re not big on vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, liver and other red meat should also help do the trick. Need an excuse for a trip to your favorite seafood restaurant? Now you’ve got one — shellfish is also a good source of iron, especially clams, mussels and oysters.
Some people are more likely to have this issue, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, but making simple changes to your diet can boost your blood iron levels.
Lengthy lists of iron-rich foods can be found on many internet websites.The cartoon character Popeye was onto something with his spinach — leafy, green vegetables are a good source of iron, particularly from the cabbage family. Stock up on broccoli, kale, turnip and collard greens, and you’ll be ready to donate in no time.
If you’re not big on vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, liver and other red meat should also help do the trick. Need an excuse for a trip to your favorite seafood restaurant? Now you’ve got one — shellfish is also a good source of iron, especially clams, mussels and oysters.
Some of those options might not sound so good to vegetarians, but there are still more ways to increase your iron levels. For vegetarians, legumes, like lima beans, peas, pinto beans, black-eyed peas and canned baked beans should find their way onto your plate to get more iron into your bloodstream.
Believe it or not, carbs can bring up your iron level if you eat yeast-leavened whole wheat bread and rolls or iron-enriched white bread, pasta and rice, or cereal such as Total.
Whatever your choice of cuisine, consuming iron-rich foods with orange juice or another source of Vitamin C should increase your absorption.
Before making any drastic changes to your diet, you should consult a physician. It is possible to over-consume iron consumption, which can actually be a danger to your health. In severe cases of iron deficiency, your physician may recommend that you take an iron supplement.
If you change your eating habits to increase your iron levels enough to give blood, your own health will benefit, as well as lives of the patients your blood donations save.
A resident of Easton, Sarah Peters is a junior at Penn State University, and a Public Relations Intern at Miller-Keystone Blood Center.
