# How do I recover quickly from giving blood? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934 "2003-03-12T21:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/1 "2003-03-12T21:00:00Z")
I’ve given blood 11 or 12 times. The last time I did, I got a surprise. Three days later, I passed out after drinking an amount of alcohol that usually would not have even given me the wobbles. Today, I’m going to give again. I’d like to get a better recovery this time. Are there foods that will help my body to restock? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/2 "2003-03-12T21:10:04Z")
Just drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids, and don’t skip any meals or skimp on sleep. Are there any foods that will make you produce more red blood cells in a 3-day span? Probably not so’s you’d notice. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/3 "2003-03-12T21:11:23Z")
1. What makes you think it was the blood donation that caused you to pass out? Other things can change your body’s reaction to previously tolerated amounts of alcohol–tiredness, coming down with the flu, etc. 2. Food with iron-building stuff in it–red meat, liver, eggs, spinach–is good. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/4 "2003-03-12T21:12:12Z")
I find the key to a good recovery is what I do _before_ giving blood. Good meals, lots of fluids. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/5 "2003-03-12T22:21:15Z")
What everyone else in the thread has said is good advice. Generally your body replaces the fluid lost by donating blood within a few days; it can take up to eight weeks to replace the red blood cells. Hydrate yourself well after giving blood – juice and sports drinks are good sources, and of course water. Stay away from caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-recover-quickly-from-giving-blood/160934/6 "2003-03-13T02:17:29Z")
Don’t forget to drink as much free juice and eat as many free cookies as they’ll give you at the blood bank. Mmmm. Cookies.