OUT: Worries about “iron-poor blood.” IN: Worries about too much iron in blood. “The problem with too much stored iron is that, short of bleeding, the body can’t easily get rid of it. Menstruating women are unlikely to have a problem, but for others with high stores the recommended treatments include phlebotomy and frequent blood donation. Without these measures, excess iron gets deposited in the liver, heart and pancreas, where it can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, cardiac arrhythmias and diabetes.”

I donate blood regularly, and one additional benefit is that it keeps iron levels from getting too high.