Health benefit of blood donation

[neoteric]

I've heard that regular blood donation is good for health, especially for men. The reason is that the too much accumulation of iron in the body can cause cancer. This can not be a problem for women because they discharge iron through menstruation. So they recommend men to donate blood once every 3 or 4 months. Do you think that this claim has some scientific base or it's a simple scary tactic to encourage men to donate more blood? Thanks.

[WendyW]

This is an old chestnut that has been kicking around for a while. I remember reading it on one of the Urban Myth sites. As far as I am aware there is no scientific backing for the claim.

[MelCar]

There is a disease called haemochromotosis which inhibits the body's ability to process iron and consequently there is a build up.  The treatment for this disease is having blood drawn.  Usually upon discovery of the disease you will have to do it regularly until the iron level is acceptable, and then you go into maintenance where you may only have to have blood drawn once every sixth months.  Men are more prone to haemochromotosis so there is some truth to the myth!

[bagiyamaheswara]

I don't completely disagree with your opinion yet for me blood donation is a way of social services as well as good for health. It's just a myth that it can make you weak. As soon as we donate the blood our body recover that easily within less time.