Blood is red because of haemoglobin, and haemoglobin is built on iron. Every donation takes out roughly 250 mg of it. Your body keeps a small iron reserve, and most healthy people rebuild comfortably before the next donation. But “most” is not “everyone”, and regular donors should know the signs. ## Who should pay attention - Women donors, periods mean steady iron loss on top of donation. The 4-month gap (vs 3 for men) exists partly for this reason.
- Donors who give 3+ times a year.
- Vegetarians, plant iron is harder to absorb than meat iron. Fixable, just needs intent (vitamin C with meals).
- Anyone deferred twice for low haemoglobin, that is your body asking for a break. Get tested, don’t just retry. ## The food fix (Assamese kitchen edition) Iron is in: dal, spinach and other greens (xaak), jaggery, eggs, fish, sesame, dates. The trick that doubles absorption: add vitamin C to the same meal, lemon on your xaak, amla, orange, tomato. Tea and coffee block iron absorption, so keep them an hour away from meals. A practical day: rice + dal + greens with lemon + one egg or fish. Full meal plan here. ## The warning signs of running low - Getting deferred for haemoglobin below 12.5, especially twice in a row
- Unusual tiredness that rest does not fix
- Breathlessness on stairs you used to climb easily
- Pale inner eyelids (ask someone to look) Any of these: see a doctor and get a simple blood test. Do not donate again until you are cleared, the finger-prick test at the centre will likely catch it anyway, and honesty before that test protects you. ## What the register does for you You cannot donate too early, the register pauses you automatically after each donation and brings you back at the right interval. That protects your iron as much as your veins. Related: iron-rich meal plan after donation · can I donate with anaemia? · how often can you donate