Donate blood what does my iron level need to be?!


Question: Donate blood what does my iron level need to be?
I will be giving blood hopefully in 11 days. If I take iron pills everyday until then should my iron be high enough to donate? i have been deffered before because my iron was too low but only by .3 and I never took any iron pills leading up to that donation. I would like to donate very badly.

Answers:

Instead of taking iron pills (they are hard on your stomach), try eating higher iron foods.
Red meat, nuts, beans, seafood and dark green vegetables are all good sources of iron.
Have something high in vitamin C at the same time as your iron rich food to help absorb the iron.
Avoid calcium rich foods (like dairy products) and caffeine for several hours before and after you take some thing high in iron. These things block the absorption of iron.
Good luck.

15 years as a phlebotomist for a major blood center




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