So, I went to donate plasma and was turned down because my plasma was too cloudy. The lady told me I have too much fat in my blood. I was wondering if this diet was going to have an effect on my weekly donation schedule. Does anyone have any advice on ways to stay Keto and be able to donate plasma? The money adds up I’m building quite a nice little vacation fund.
The good news is I use their scales to check my progress and I’m down 10 solid pounds- currently moving at about a 2lbs per week.
It may be a temporary phenomenon, when you start keto it begins to break down cholesterol lining your arteries and when you’re starting to burn your own fat lipid levels in the blood willl be higher until some time has passed, and your blood will have better lipid profiles, maybe several months into keto. 
Thanks for the reply- it’s kinda nice getting my blood tested for such things- protein, lipids, iron -twice a week. I’m going to try today and see if my less fatty diet last night and today helped. Otherwise, I will have to take it as a good sign that I am going to be a fat-burning machine soon- If I am understanding you correctly?
You’ll probably have to just be patient and wait for a spell before donating again. And things should get better when you become a “fat burning machine” KCKO
Dave Feldman has a cheat to reduce LDL
basically. If you’re losing fat, the fatty acids are going to be transported in your blood. Eat carbs and they’ll stop. It’s a timing thing.
Not good if you want to lose weight but it’s a trade off if you need the $
And then I get the results of my lap work done yesterday morning (fasting):
I’m writing to inform you that your Metabolic panel normal, blood sugar normal. Total cholesterol
t riglycerides and LDL all normal. HDL or good cholesterol just a very slight bit low. Can be
improved with continued exercise and increasing intake of healthy fats, being careful with
portions of healthy fats as they are also high in calories.
EAT MORE FATS! lmao ahh, not a problem Doc!
I have to admit, I’m kinda confused as to how to understand all this beyond I’m okay to eat more fats and I’m normal, lol.
If you’re loosing weight at a decent pace you’re going to have more fat in the bloodstream, no way around it. Were you fasted when you went to donate?
More fat in the blood stream? I’ve been keto for over a year. Just got a lipid panel, LDL is 699, way way up from 2 years ago. I may be a lean mass hyper responder? (My TG:HDL ration is less than 1:1 and I’m fit so I’m not panicked but…) I wonder what the blood collection people would find in my blood.
The only way I knew for sure was my running workouts stopped sucking after three months.
Amy Berger wrote a nice article on her website tuitnutrition.com about ketosis and fat adaption that I’ve found helpful.
They always turn my blood donation down because I am too mad. Apparently, because I am of certain vintage from the UK when we had mad cow disease (80s), they don’t want my blood. It is too mad. Apparently. 
I went for my first donation last weekend and everything was fine, but I’ve been Keto for 6 months. But just as a precaution I’m eating only lean foods today as I go to donate again later this evening. I’m still wondering tho how long does it take the food you eat to affect the color of your plasma?
Unless you have genetically super high triglycerides, I don’t think your diet will affect the color of your plasma.
I have noticed that premenopausal women have plasma that seems to have a very slightly green tinge, to my eye. Also, at a plasma donation center, where they are drawing your whole blood, adding a bit of anticoagulant, putting it through a centrifuge, drawing off the plasma and returning your red cells to you… you’ll notice that the first draw will be very light and almost straw colored. After several cycles, you’ll notice the plasma getting darker and darker, I believe this is due to some hemolysis that happens when some red blood cells are slightly damaged each cycle and color the plasma accordingly.
The plasma donation center where I go indicates that you should eat a low fat diet the day before your planned donation (and should NOT be fasting) so that the fat in your blood does not slow down the process. One of the phlebotomists showed me a filter with the fat from my blood that is separated out. She said mine wasn’t bad, but if it’s really high it can slow down the draws and returns because it clogs the lines a little and lowers the pressure.
I haven’t ever altered my diet on purpose, and mine is a pretty high fat diet most days.
I’m 6 months in and yesterday I did the intake for blood donation. I never donated before. They took a little blood for testing for diseases and measured Hb and blood pressure. It was not yet a donation, only an intake.
Question 1:
Hb was just borderline OK for donating, almost too low. I was very well (maybe overly well) hydrated. I wonder what is best to do: not hydrate as much next time, or start supplementing iron? I eat a lot of red meat and include liver and a bit of green leafy vegetables. I think my diet is already optimal for Hb.
Question 2:
At the donation site I saw a big table with all kinds of sugary things people can take after the draw. Also I read sometimes they offer it when you get to feel weak. What should I replace that with? Will only water do? Take bouillon with me? Coffee?
hi Annja. Do you drink a lot of black tea? That can affect iron absorption.
Maybe some salted macadamia nuts?
I am going to donate on Dec. 24th. Here in Canada they say to drink 500 ml of water before the draw and to bring some filtred water to drink during and after. They also say they will provide a salty snack. I have no idea what it will be, as it is a long time since I have donated.
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