Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood? - PaleoHacks.com

Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:26:00Z

I just scheduled an appointment to donate blood next week. I'm instructed to eat beforehand, but to "avoid fatty foods for 24 hours before donating." According to the Red Cross:

Eat a healthy meal before your donation. Avoid fatty foods, such as hamburgers, fries or ice cream before donating. Tests for infections done on all donated blood can be affected by fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/tips-successful-donation

So... I guess I have to eat nothing but fruit and vegetables for 24 hours before donating? Sounds like I can't eat eggs, beef, or butter.

It's not a big deal if I have to avoid these foods, but does anyone know if this is really necessary? It sounds a little made up to me.

Answer by Jeff for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:30:13Z

I've never had a problem donating, and I eat a lot of fatty foods

Answer by Chris for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:30:42Z

I just gave blood last monday and before I donated I ate a sweet potato loaded with butter.

So... my bad.

Just make sure you eat plenty and drink lots of water. I'm not sure that warning even makes sense.

Answer by Cory151 for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:31:29Z

Just eat like you normally do, it'll be fine. Ive eaten massive amounts coconut oil before donating and they keep sending emails wanting more.

Answer by Eric for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:38:42Z

"Avoid fatty foods for twenty-four hours before you donate. Increased fat in your blood stream might make it impossible to get accurate readings on some of the mandatory screening tests conducted on samples of your blood after you donate. If they can't run all the tests, they have to discard your donation. You don't want all your effort wasted!"

http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-to-Donate-Blood

It's quite possible that all these people who are telling you it's fine are never told there was something wrong with their donation, especially if it wasn't a real medical issue, just an error with the screening tests. Blood gets discarded, doesn't help anyone, and you never know.

Seems like the potential for an ~~awful waste~~ inefficient use of time - may as well just stick to low fat paleo for a day beforehand.

Answer by Sunny Beaches for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T22:52:56Z

There is nothing on that link saying you can't eat eggs, beef, or butter. They list beef and eggs under sources of iron. It says nothing about NO fat. It just gives advice on the few hours before the test, as it affects your blood prior to donation. You can chug down your butter right after the test if you really want to make up for one meal. I'm sure it's not a BIG deal, but for blood donation, they probably just want to play it "safe" and increase the likelihood that blood will be useable.

The post-blood donation calls (to get you to donate blood) are from people who have no idea of your medical history. They go by a giant list of previous donors or even those who put their email on a list and never donated. And like someone else said before, unless you have AIDS, they don't have the time to call each person up whose diet interfered with their testing.

Answer by Team Oberg for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-20T23:28:33Z

I think the confusion is due to the misconception that fat increases fat and triglicerides in your blood. From the looks of it they just advise not eating junk food which should be no problem for you since I doubt Mcdonals and ice cream are on the menu.

Answer by NewEra for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2012-04-21T00:17:39Z

I donate every 8 weeks, and have for a long time. I've never avoided fatty food, and never had a problem. Quite frankly I've never noticed that warning. It's really not a big deal. It'll be fine.

Answer by naomi for Do I really need to avoid fatty foods 24 hours before donating blood?

2013-04-23T10:13:33Z

im donating today ut im really nerous, is there any tips for reassurance. also i had a chinese last night for my tea, would it affect donating ???