Important Health Benefits You Can Get From Donating Blood

Reduces Harmful Stores Of Iron

Clearly, committed donation of blood on a regular basis reduces harmful stores of iron in an individual's body. Iron is a vital mineral the body absorbs from the diet and utilizes to produce hemoglobin, the component of red blood cells that carries oxygen. The recommended intake of iron is less than forty-five milligrams each day. Intake of forty-five milligrams or more every day for an extended duration can lead to a condition called iron overload or hemochromatosis. Excess iron in the body promotes the production of reactive oxygen species and free radicals by the cells that contribute to the development of cancer and other aging diseases. Most individuals affected by hemochromatosis are not aware they have the condition because symptoms overlap those of common conditions and do not manifest until later on in life. Committed, regular blood donors are able to keep this condition from developing because they are frequently eliminating the excess iron from their bodies. Regular blood donors can help reduce cellular damage throughout their body caused by processes of inflammation.