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Why Do You Get Apple Juice After Giving Blood?

Donating blood gives the public a chance to help out those who are in need of blood transfusions. If you participate in a blood drive, you are likely to find juice and/or cookies offered soon after the donating is done. This is to make sure that the donor's blood sugar levels remain at a safe level.

  1. Purpose

    • Apple juice, like other fruit juices, has a high content of fructose. This means that over time, apple juice can help to raise a minor dip in your blood sugar level, which can happen after donating blood.

    Alternatives

    • Instead of apple juice, donors are sometimes given cookies or carbonated soft drinks soon after they give blood. Although a small serving of these confections can help to raise blood sugar levels, a cup of fruit juice is the healthier option. Those that contain iron, such as prune juice, are even better.

    Speculations

    • Donors often suspect that a light snack following the donation, such as apple juice, helps as an energy boost. However, the body's energy levels are neither affected nor depleted as a result of donating blood.

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