Any health benefits to donating blood?

Yes , for some: Although there are no risks in donating blood, if you are healthy. Some individuals have medical conditions in which donating blood benefits their disease.

Maybe ; yes: While there may be an actual benefit in turning over the iron stores in your body (see book "the iron elephant), there definitely is a well-deserved improve in self-esteem and morale knowing that with the simple act of donating a unit of blood you have saved three lives! and you can have a cookie. Highly recommend donating as it is definitely needed!

Yes: There have been a few studies suggesting people who regularly donate blood have a decrease occurrence of heart disease. While unsure of direct causal relationship, there is definitely a relationship between the two and it may have to do with iron turnover and red blood cell production. Some people have med conditions that will be directly aided by this, such as hemachromatosis.