Letting blood flow out of your body and giving it away to save the life of a stranger is one of the noblest things you can do with your life.

Donating blood is an act of selflessness.  It is a manifestation of love for life.  After all, blood symbolizes life in its very essence.

There is joy and fulfillment in donating blood, but do you know that it can give you a lot of health benefits in return?  If you plan to donate blood or if you are already a regular blood donor, you should know the benefits of donating blood.  Please read on to know some of them.

1. It helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Iron is one of the most basic components of blood. It is found in every blood cell and it is responsible for carrying oxygen to every cell in your body.  Your body needs iron to function normally.  In fact, its deficiency can cause anemia which can lead to other health issues.

But too much iron in the bloodstream can also be harmful, as it increases your risk to cardiovascular diseases.  By donating blood, excess iron is removed from your body, thus, your risk for cardiovascular diseases is lessened.

2. It helps to make you aware of your blood pressure, cholesterol and iron levels.

You cannot donate blood without going through a minor physical examination to check your blood type, blood pressure, temperature, iron and cholesterol levels, and other health issues such as hepatitis and HIV.  This evaluation can help you to know if you have related health issues that need to be addressed.

3. It helps to lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Recent studies show that donating blood can help to reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer such as cancer of the throat, lungs and stomach.

4. It gives you the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

The joy of donating blood lies in knowing that you have done an act to save someone else’s life.  A chance at life is the most precious gift that you can give to someone, and you are giving this gift freely by donating your blood.  This will give you a great feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Blood donation can give you a little discomfort, but its rewards are great because it can save lives.