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Culture War Roundup for the week of November 11, 2024

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Isn't donating blood supposed to be good for your health too? Within limits, obviously.

ALLEGEDLY it helps clear out toxins, heavy metals, and other 'forever' chemicals that the body can't otherwise process.

I believe it.

Also supposed to help with blood pressure, which anecdotally seems to be the case for me (I give blood, sometimes double red, on a very regular basis).

Ah, regression to the mean, the eternal enemy of miracle cures and performance enhancing supplements.

It can definitely lower your iron levels, which is usually a good thing.

I used to donate plasma, and they would refuse to do it if my blood pressure was too high (I was of average fitness but I had to walk a decent distance to get to the donation place so the often made me wait for ten minutes). Maybe I should do some blood letting at home for my hypertension, since i doubt they would let me donate.

Yeah, the idea is that new blood is less polluted. You're dumping all of that on whoever gets your blood, but I think if you're in that situation, that's the least of your worries.

Do they really do no advanced filtering before donation? I guess I thought they would for some reason.

Depends on the clinic. The high end ones will offer ultra filtered blood with an option for enriched adrenechrome levels

Supposedly it's good for you, although that seems awfully convenient doesn't it? What if the research showed the opposite effect. I doubt it would get published.

The primary mechanism for benefits would appear to be reducing iron levels in males. But it also apparently burns 600 calories, so it's a great way to stay trim for the summer bikini season ladies!

The one time I asked a doctor, he told me that donating a pint of blood cost closer to 2000 calories for your body to replace.