I just donated blood for the first time in about five years. It was nice to get a little checkup and see my iron level and stuff. Anyone know how many calories it takes to replace a unit of blood? I've seen 600, but I don't want to over-do it. I do want to be sure my body gets what it needs.

Any info would be really helpful. Thanks!

Hm, when I've donated blood, I haven't change my calorie intake at all. I'll drink more fluids, but that's all. Any extra calories used I'll take as a bonus!

What I've always heard is that your body needs about 300 more calories give or take, but that is over a course of days. What I tend to do is consider the snack that is provided after donation as "free" and not count it in my calories that day (though I try to choose a 'healthier' option instead of going for the brownies that look so good) and then just pay extra attention to how I feel the next couple days, and if I feel hungry or week I will have a snack.

I'm with Meg, I never changed how I ate after giving blood.

I give blood as often as I can, and I have never changed what I eat. I might have a larger breakfast than I normally would, but my overall calories for the day does not change. I do drink more for the next few days though.

I give blood every 56 days. I eat the cookies after but skip the juice. I fill the rest of my day with lots of water. I also always feel fine - if I felt bad I would eat more. I write my cookies down, but if that day is higher then normal I don't worry about it.

Your body burns 600 calories replacing the blood you lose while donating. But you body takes weeks to replace that blood. Hence why you can only donate every 56 days. So you will burn 600 calories over the next 56 days.

If you don't feel well then eat extra. But don't donate blood simply to burn calories - it doesn't work that way.

Also take it easy, no exercise!

I used to struggle with eating the cookies - I didn't want to have the extra calories. But I have come to take it as my treat for doing something good - you body needs to have the sugar. They usually get made at me when I don't want the juice... but I will be honest, I would rather eat two packs of cookies then drink the dumb juice, lol.

Ok! Thanks for the input. I ended up having a cookie and juice and it puts me over about 80 calories, so I'm not going to stress too much. I don't donate blood for the calories, but it's a nice perk!

So, this just makes me really curious - those of you who have donated often:

Does it make you noticeably hungry over the next couple days?

Do you see an effect on the scale?

Julie, I'm not hungrier, but my endurance goes WAY down, and I get sleepy, which is an overeating trigger for me. But it's not hunger, it's the sleepiness.

I don't notice a drop on the scale unless I don't hydrate well afterward.

Ditto. Always very tired that day and the day after. And yea, no drop in scale because I drink too much water.