Dairy, eggs, and sausages. What foods should donors avoid before donating blood?

June 3, MINSK . Anastasia Tulupova, HEAD of the Clinical Transfusiology Department at the City Transfusiology Center of the 6th City Clinical Hospital in Minsk, discussed which foods donors should avoid before donating blood to ensure the procedure is not in vain, BelTA reports. Tulupova

noted that to become a donor, one must be of legal age and provide a discharge summary from the clinic stating the absence of contraindications. Each primary donor's blood type, Rh factor, and hemoglobin level are determined on-site. it should not be below 125 g/L for men and below 120 g/L for women. "In addition, it is necessary to carefully prepare for the procedure. It is essential to have a light breakfast in the morning, preferably containing carbohydrates and proteins, without fat. Just before the procedure, the donor is given warm tea to reduce the risk of hypovolemic shock. Two to three days before, it is recommended to eliminate smoked, spicy, fried foods, pickles, dairy products, eggs , sausages , seeds, and chips from the diet. These are high in fat, which can later cause plasma chyle, making the blood unsuitable for use. Nuts, dates, and bananas are prohibited for the same reason. Avoid beets and blueberries 48-72 hours before, as they stain the plasma. Sweetened store-bought drinks may also contain harmful dyes," the head of the office emphasized.

The donor must eliminate these from their life.ALCOHOL and various energy drinks should be avoided for at least 72 hours before donating blood. "Or better yet, permanently. If a patient regularly takes any medications , they cannot donate; if possible, they should stop taking them 72 hours beforehand. After antibiotic treatment, a medical exemption from donating is given for at least two weeks. Donors are advised not to even be near smokers and should avoid smoking on the morning of the donation. If you feel unwell, the procedure should be postponed until you have fully recovered. Donating blood after an all-nighter or a sleepless night is not recommended," the DOCTOR said .

"According to the law 'On the Donation of Blood and Its Components,' donors are entitled to a day off on the day of donation and 100% sick leave pay if they have donated blood more than four times in a year and components more than 60 times in the 12 months preceding the sick leave date. They can also take vacation time during the period they wish, and receive a pension increase. A donor who has donated blood 40 times and plasma 80 times, or who has donated blood 20 times and plasma 40 times, receives the Ministry of Health's "Honorary Donor of the Republic of Belarus" distinction. The law on donation also outlines various benefits, rights, and guarantees available to honorary donors. For example, priority appointments at social service institutions and 25% discounts on paid services at clinics. However, all of this information must be clarified at your place of residence," explained Anastasia Tulupova.

A donor is an invisible hero who helps save lives. "In 2024 , surgical activity in Minsk increased significantly – approximately 200,000 surgeries were performed. 14 tons of donor red blood cells were transfused, which is 667 liters more than in 2023," the doctor emphasized.

Anastasia Tulupova believes that to attract people to donate, it's necessary to educate people, including through the media, about the purpose of donated blood, how it's used, the donation process, and how donors are selected. "For example, if someone has had a tooth removed, they cannot donate for 10 days. If they have a tattoo, they can only donate blood after six months. Chronic illnesses are also a contraindication. Furthermore, patients must have a normal body mass index. There are many cases where young women come, but we cannot draw their blood because they are underweight," she said.

Incidentally, on the websites of healthcare institutions where blood is collected, you can see a "donor traffic light." This is a sign with information about the blood type currently in demand in the city.