What to Eat and Do Before Donating Plasma: Best Foods, Plus Tips to Prepare

You may have heard that you need to have high enough iron levels to donate blood. But is the same thing true for donating plasma? Plasma and whole blood donation are two different processes. But both have similar health screenings, and you need to have good iron levels for both.

If you’re considering blood or plasma donation, you can boost the iron in your diet ahead of time. Let’s review some iron-rich foods that you should eat before and after you donate.

Why is iron important for donating blood or plasma?

Iron is a mineral that you get through your diet — and your body needs it to make red blood cells. Red blood cells need iron to carry oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body. 

When you donate whole blood, you lose iron that’s carried inside of your red blood cells. This is less of a concern with plasma donation because you aren’t donating the red blood cells. But you can still lose a bit of iron when donating plasma. 

Luckily, your body has ferritin — a stored form of iron. This helps replace the iron you lose after donating blood. But if the stored iron isn’t replaced by iron-rich food sources, you could develop low iron levels (iron-deficiency anemia).

It can take months to raise iron levels by eating iron-rich foods. So, when it comes to blood donation, the question is less about how to raise iron levels overnight and more about how to increase or maintain a sufficient level of iron over time. This is why it’s important to eat iron-rich foods before and after donating blood to make sure your body has all of the iron it needs.

What iron-rich foods should you eat before donating blood or plasma?

Iron exists in two forms in food: heme iron and nonheme iron. Heme iron is easier for your body to absorb. It’s in animal products like: 

• Red meat

• Poultry

• Eggs

• Fish

You can also eat nonheme iron, but it’s harder for your body to absorb. This is in plant foods like beans and leafy greens. Consuming foods with vitamin C, like lemon juice or bell peppers, can make the nonheme iron easier to absorb. 

Below, we include a list of foods to eat before donating plasma or blood. These are all sources of iron that’ll help you prepare to donate. 

Red meats

Red meats rich in heme iron include:

• Beef

• Veal

• Pork

• Lamb and mutton

• Goat

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When is the best time to eat before donating blood or plasma?

Aim to eat a nutritious meal about 2 to 3 hours before donating blood or plasma. If you don’t eat before your appointment, you may not feel well after you donate. It’s especially important to eat a well-balanced meal before donating plasma so that you can feel your best when you’re done.

After you give plasma or whole blood, you’ll be offered something to eat or drink to make sure you stay hydrated. Most people feel normal after donating plasma or whole blood, but some people feel a little weak or lightheaded. If that happens, make sure you rest, drink fluids, and eat (especially iron-rich foods). 

What to expect before donating blood or plasma

When you go to donate plasma or whole blood, you’ll check in and then go through a quick health screening to make sure it’s safe for you to donate. This screening will check your:

• Heart rate

• Blood pressure

• Temperature

• Red blood cell level (hemoglobin)

• Blood for HIV and hepatitis

Once you’ve been approved to donate, you’ll begin the donation process. Plasma donation centers use a special instrument (plasmapheresis machine) that collects whole blood. Whole blood contains plasma, platelets, and red and white blood cells. The machine separates the plasma from these other components (apheresis) and returns the other blood cells back to your body. The process can take up to 2 hours to complete. 

Whole blood donation doesn’t use a plasmapheresis machine. All components of blood are kept during the donation. No part of the blood that’s taken will be returned to your body. The process takes about 30 minutes to complete. 

What to avoid before donating blood or plasma

Before going to the donation center, avoid anything that could dehydrate you. So, on the day before and the day you donate plasma or whole blood, try to avoid or limit:

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Strenuous exercise

• Aspirin

• Nicotine

• High-fat foods

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Written by:

Frank Schwalbe, MD

Frank Schwalbe, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He has practiced anesthesiology for 30 years.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Farzon Nahvi, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and teaches at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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