How to prepare for giving blood and look after yourself afterwards

One bag of blood can help several people. If you're planning to donate, getting your body ready beforehand and looking after yourself afterwards helps things go smoothly.

This summary is based on Herbalife Thailand material, which cites the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society (redcross.or.th).

Before you give blood

• Get enough sleep: at least 5 hours the night before
• Drink enough water: about 500–600 ml before donating
• Eat at least 3–4 hours before you donate
• Avoid high-fat foods, as they lower the quality of the blood collected
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours beforehand
• Tell the staff if you take any medicine or have a long-term health condition

After you give blood

• Sit and rest for at least 10–15 minutes; don't get up too quickly
• Have the food or drink provided at the donation point
• Drink plenty of water over the next 24 hours to replace the fluid you've lost
• Avoid strenuous activity, such as hard exercise or heavy lifting, for the first 24 hours
• Avoid using the arm you donated from for 24 hours
• Eat iron-rich foods such as pork liver, egg yolks, leafy greens and red beans

Follow the staff's advice

• Follow the blood centre staff's instructions at every step
• Answer the health screening questions honestly
• If you feel unwell during or after donating, tell the staff straight away
• For donor eligibility and how long to wait between donations, ask the blood centre or hospital directly

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If you have a long-term health condition, are pregnant or take medication, talk to your doctor and tell the staff before giving blood. Questions about balanced everyday eating? Ask us on LINE.

Image and reference from official material in the MyHerbalife media library: Getting ready before donating blood · How to look after yourself after donating blood (added to the library: Jun 2025 · Jun 2025)

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