Could giving blood improve heart health and lower the risk of diabetes? New research findings

Most of us know that donating blood can save lives, helping accident victims, surgical patients and those battling chronic illnesses but what if this generous act also had surprising benefits for the donor? Emerging research suggests that rolling up your sleeve to give blood might do more than just help others—it could also improve your own health in ways you never imagined.

A fascinating study from the Francis Crick Institute in London has shed light on an unexpected link between frequent blood donation and a reduced risk of blood cancers. As we age, our blood-forming stem cells naturally accumulate mutations—a process called clonal hematopoiesis.

Some of these mutations can increase the risk of leukemia and other blood disorders. Researchers compared two groups of healthy men in their 60s: one group had donated blood three times a year for 40 years, while the other had only donated about five times in total. The results were intriguing.