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Drinking water

How to improve your donation experience!

February 20, 2023

Drinking enough water every day has many benefits for your health, and for your plasma donation!   A well hydrated donor can expect an easier venipuncture and a faster donation.  Proper hydration can help regulate body temperature (less deferrals for temperature deviation), prevent infections (less missed donations due to sickness) and even help deliver nutrients to cells (for a faster recovery).

Experts recommend drinking roughly 11 cups of water per day for the average woman and 16 for men.1   Although drinking water is the easy solution, there are many beverages that will help to keep you hydrated and some that will not.  Below is a list of the best and worst fluids for hydration:

Best

  • Water
  • Fruit-infused water (not juice)
  • Milk
  • Kombucha
  • Tea
  • Coconut water
  • Sports drinks

Worst

  • Soda
  • Juice
  • Beer, wine, liquor
  • Hot Cocoa
  • Flavored milk
  • Coffee, especially in large quantities 
  • Energy drinks

The beverages listed in the “WORST” columns contain either concentrated sugar, alcohol or caffeine.  Each of these can have a diuretic effect in the body, flushing water from the body and contributing to dehydration.  Drinking a beverage (or two) from the “BEST” column will help to keep your body hydrated and result in a better donation experience.

Sources:

1. hsph.harvard.edu: ”The importance of Hydration”