Donating blood reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new scientific report from Finland.

A study of 2,682 men discovered they had an 88 per cent reduced risk of heart attacks than those who didn’t donate,according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Similarly, another study published in the Journal of the National cancer Institute also found that those to gave blood had lower likelihood of suffering from cancer because it lowered levels of iron which is associated with free radical damage in the body. This study involved 1,200 people over four-and-a-half years.

As well as loosing 650 calories for every pint of blood, these benefits were dependent on regular donations.

The news could come as welcome boost to British blood banks which use an average of 7,000 units of blood every day.

According to JAMA researchers found that those aged 43 to 61 had fewer heart attacks and strokes when they donated blood every six months.

After donating blood, the body replaces all of the blood volume within 48 hours, and all the red blood cells within four to eight weeks.