12 Reasons Why Selfish People Should Donate Blood

Forget giving the gift of life, here are some reasons why donating blood is good for YOU.

1. Burn 650 calories every time you donate blood

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According to a study by The University of California San Diego, people who donate blood burn about 650 calories in the process. So forget the treadmill and head over to your local blood donation clinic! (but keep in mind you'll need to wait 56 days between each donation, so don't cancel that gym membership just yet.)

2. Get free food

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To help your body recover from the loss of blood volume, you'll be served free cookies and fruit juices by attentive nurses and volunteers immediately after your donation. That's right. Free Cookies. As much as your heart desires.

3. Find out your blood type

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"Hey baby what's your blood type?"

When you make a donation, your blood is tested to identify whether you're an O, A, B or AB and whether your type is positive or negative. Your blood type not only affects who can receive your donated blood, but also which types you could receive.

4. Find out if you have an STD

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After your blood is collected, it's sent off to a lab where it will undergo various tests for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis. While you should never donate blood if you think you are at risk for HIV, if anything comes back positive, you'll be notified immediately.

5. Find out if you have any other infectious diseases

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Every unit of donated blood is also tested for over a dozen infectious disease markers, including Chagas disease, Human T-Lymphotropic virus, and West Nile virus.

6. Earn your bragging rights

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According to the American Red Cross, a single 1-pint donation can save up to 3 lives. If that's not impressive enough on its own, think of all the sweet selfies you'll be able to take and all the Likes you'll get from them.

7. Receive compliments on your nice veins

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Nowhere else will you receive so much praise for your veiny arms than at a blood donation clinic.

8. Find out if you're anemic

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Before your donation, the clinic obtains a blood sample from a drop of blood from your finger and tests it using a machine that determines the hemoglobin level. If your hemoglobin is below the acceptable level, you'll be asked to see doctor for further testing for anemia and to determine the underlying cause, which can be a more serious condition such as celiac disease, stomach ulcer, polyps, or even cancer of the colon.

9. Get Free WiFi

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Many clinics have free WiFi, so you'll get to live tweet, Snapchat, or otherwise tell the world about your heroic experience without delay.

10. Reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease

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Although iron is an essential nutrient, excessive levels if iron in your body can result in oxidative damage which leads to accelerated ageing, heart attacks, and strokes. Regular blood donations help lower the level of iron in the body, and has been linked to decreased risk for cancer and heart disease. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

11. Get pampered

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The donation chairs are unbelievably comfortable. The only other place you'll get to lounge around while being attended to by professional staff is probably a day spa.

12. Be treated like a hero for essentially sitting in a comfy chair for 30 minutes

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Depending on where you donate, you'll probably receive a sticker or a pin identifying you as a blood donor. This will cause everyone around you to treat you exceptionally nicely.