Donating blood is one of the most important and life-saving things everyday people can do. Yet, while it’s often seen as purely altruistic, new research suggests that frequent donors may be gaining something in return: a potential boost to their blood cell health and a reduced risk of blood cancer.

Men who had given blood more than 100 times in their life were more likely to have blood cells carrying certain beneficial mutations, suggesting that donating blood promotes the growth of these cells

New research suggests that frequent blood donation can trigger genetic changes that might protect certain stem cells from becoming cancerous.