What You Can and Can’t Drink Before Donating Plasma
September 23, 2022
Did you know that over 90% of blood plasma is water? The fact that plasma is largely made up of water is one of the reasons why it’s so important to focus on the beverages you consume prior to your appointment. In order to have a healthy plasma supply, you must be properly hydrated!
Read on to find out which liquids you should drink – and the ones you should steer clear of – before you donate plasma!
What Should You Drink To Improve Your Plasma Supply?
1. Drink Water
Making sure that you’re adequately hydrated before your plasma donation appointment will boost your plasma supply and ensure a smooth recovery. It is also one of the best ways to prevent being deferred! Because plasma is 90% water, it’s important that you drink 6-8 glasses of water on the day of your appointment – ideally a few hours prior to donating.
2. Drink Citrus-Infused Beverages
Before your appointment (and after), it’s important that you feel your best so you can make a healthy donation and recover well post-donation. Making sure that your vitamin C intake meets your body’s requirements is important for your overall health. Plus, vitamin C helps with iron absorption, and in order to donate plasma you must have iron levels within a certain range.
Try adding some citrus, like lemon juice, to your water to stay healthy and hydrated!
What Drinks Should You Avoid Before Donating Plasma?
1. Don’t Drink Caffeinated Beverages
It’s crucial that you avoid caffeine before donating plasma because it’s a diuretic that can dehydrate you and impact your pulse. Instead, try caffeine-free tea or coffee if you’re craving a warm, comforting beverage on the morning of your plasma donation appointment.
2. Don’t Drink Alcohol
You should not drink alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment. Just like caffeine, alcohol is a substance that can dehydrate you and ultimately impact your plasma supply. Also, drinking wine can impact your iron levels and cause the iron levels in your plasma to fluctuate.
What Is Plasma Used For?
Now that you know what to drink (and what drinks to avoid) before your plasma donation appointment, you might be curious about why donating plasma is so important in the first place. Plasma is used to treat over 80 immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. It is also used in emergency situations where transfusions are required, such as car accidents.
Plasma not only does good for others, it’s beneficial to you, too. If you donate at Canadian Plasma Resources, you can earn up to $400 a month for your plasma donations. Paid plasma donations help ensure a secure supply of plasma for patients in need, and we are proud to fairly compensate our donors! Book an appointment at a centre near you today.
