I've had this same discussion with someone else recently. My thought process is this: If you are someone that needs to OD on iron in order to donate blood, should you really be donating all that often? I'm under the impression that those guidelines are there for your health.
My iron tends to hover right around that point naturally (as does my mother's, actually). I've never experienced any other ill effect. My routine bloodwork regularly passes the doctor's inspection, I don't have unexplainable energy problems, my blood pressure and heart rate are both fine, I have no difficulties exercising. My heart rate and breathing rate are well below Chuckro's during exertion.
My mother's the same way - she's been donating blood regularly for decades now (they gave her an umbrella, and I think baseball tickets at one point), except that she fails the iron test by a hair every once in awhile. It's never done her any harm.
For that matter, I'm pretty good about giving blood - I don't faint, and at most I get a little dizzy if I overexert myself that day (which is normal).
I don't need to OD on iron to pass - however, given Chuckro's dietary issues lately, I've barely eaten red meat in months and probably haven't stepped up the leafy greens as much as I should have to compensate. I'd actually planned for this - tonight's dinner was going to involve a big bowl of spinach. Except that the blood drive was today instead of tomorrow.
My donated as often as he could in the years we were in Boston (hey, he worked in a hospital with a blood bank). I used to go and wait with him. They gave me cookies and apple juice. We have sooooo many umbrellas.
What jeth said, but also bear in mind that the iron requirement needed for donating blood is well above what is required to live a healthy life. They demand that you have a lot more iron in order to donate so you don't lose too much from the donation.
Also, iron can easily be replenished with supplements, so it's not something that's hard to recover when some is donated.
You're on the west side, conveniently near subways--want to come to the hospital for their donation drive? I can find out the times for you. Alas, I'm still in my 58-day period until well after they're done, or I'd go with. But I can come along for moral support!
I lost the e-mail, but the NYBloodCenter's website has a list. There seem to be blood drives at Columbia's Morningside Campus:
10/30 12-8 pm at the School of Business (119th+Bway)
10/31 Halloween (uh, wouldn't recommend that one) 11-4:30pm on College Walk
11/2 10:30-5:30 pm at the Law School, which is during work hours, so not so helpful there
11/3 they're at the Low Library (the round building that supposedly has the giant microscope in it, thanks Spider-Man) until 8 pm.
Durn, I don't see one at our hospital. It must have been earlier in the donation cycle. Then again, ours might also be later. I know I've donated around Halloween and at Christmas up here on different years. However, I do know that Port Authority has a standing donation center--you can make an appointment with them, too.
Ummm, yes Spinach does contain iron, BUT IT'S Non-heme iron! therefore, not absorb-able by the human body. In addition, spinach contains Oxalic Acid which binds to iron, (Fe++) therefore, it will inhibit iron absorption from other foods in the human body. Soooo, if low iron levels are a problem, THE VERY LAST THING YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS EATING SPINACH!
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My mother's the same way - she's been donating blood regularly for decades now (they gave her an umbrella, and I think baseball tickets at one point), except that she fails the iron test by a hair every once in awhile. It's never done her any harm.
For that matter, I'm pretty good about giving blood - I don't faint, and at most I get a little dizzy if I overexert myself that day (which is normal).
I don't need to OD on iron to pass - however, given Chuckro's dietary issues lately, I've barely eaten red meat in months and probably haven't stepped up the leafy greens as much as I should have to compensate. I'd actually planned for this - tonight's dinner was going to involve a big bowl of spinach. Except that the blood drive was today instead of tomorrow.
Stupid calendar.
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Also, iron can easily be replenished with supplements, so it's not something that's hard to recover when some is donated.
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10/30 12-8 pm at the School of Business (119th+Bway)
10/31 Halloween (uh, wouldn't recommend that one) 11-4:30pm on College Walk
11/2 10:30-5:30 pm at the Law School, which is during work hours, so not so helpful there
11/3 they're at the Low Library (the round building that supposedly has the giant microscope in it, thanks Spider-Man) until 8 pm.
Durn, I don't see one at our hospital. It must have been earlier in the donation cycle. Then again, ours might also be later. I know I've donated around Halloween and at Christmas up here on different years. However, I do know that Port Authority has a standing donation center--you can make an appointment with them, too.
Goodbye eggs Florentine...
therefore, not absorb-able by the human body.
In addition, spinach contains Oxalic Acid which binds to iron, (Fe++) therefore, it will inhibit iron absorption from other foods in the human body.
Soooo, if low iron levels are a problem, THE VERY LAST THING YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS EATING SPINACH!