Iron, vitamin C, water — the food choices that make your donation smooth and keep your haemoglobin up.
অসমীয়া সাৰাংশ
দানৰ আগত লোহা সমৃদ্ধ খাদ্য — মাংস, পাতা শাক, গুড় — আৰু ভিটামিন চি খাওক। খালী পেট কেতিয়াও দান নকৰিব।
Never donate on an empty stomach. Eat a proper meal 2–3 hours before.
In the days before (builds haemoglobin):
- Iron-rich: red meat, liver, chicken, fish; vegetarians: spinach and leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, jaggery, dates, beans
- Pair iron with vitamin C (lemon, amla, orange, guava) — it multiplies absorption
- Avoid tea/coffee with meals on donation day — tannins block iron uptake
Right before:
- Extra water (500 ml in the 2 hours prior)
- Something salty-ish is fine; skip oily/heavy food
A low Hb finger-prick reading is the most common deferral in Assam — usually fixable with 2–3 weeks of iron-rich eating. Ask the centre to re-check next time.
About this article
Written by Assam Blood Donor team. Medical review: pending, content follows published national (NBTC/NACO) guidance and is for general education, not personal medical advice.
Last updated 26 Aug 2026.
Sources: National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) guidance · NACO Voluntary Blood Donation Programme · Assam SBTC donor criteria
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