Vegan foods high in Iron (USDA SR Legacy)

Red meat and poultry dominate this ranking because their iron binds easily to the proteins that carry oxygen through your blood. Animal tissues contain haem iron, the form your body absorbs with the fewest obstacles. Plant foods hold non-haem iron, which your gut takes up less readily and only when other compounds in the meal do not block it.

Iron concentrates in organ meats, then muscle meats, then leafy greens and legumes. A single ranking cannot show you absorption rates. Two foods with the same iron count per 100 g deliver different amounts to your bloodstream depending on what else you eat alongside them.

Without animal foods, you lose access to haem iron. Plant sources and fortified foods supply non-haem iron instead, which your body absorbs at a lower rate and loses to interference from phytates, tannins and polyphenols in the same meal. Eating vitamin C alongside iron-rich plants improves uptake substantially. Many fortified cereals and plant milks contain added iron in amounts comparable to meat, but absorption remains the limiting factor on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

FDA daily value: 18 mg

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Showing 1001–1050 of 3,584 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV
1001 Buckwheat groats, roasted, dry Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.47 mg 14%
1002 Nuts, pecans, oil roasted, without salt added Nut and Seed Products 2.47 mg 14%
1003 Bread, whole-wheat, commercially prepared Baked Products 2.47 mg 14%
1004 Bulgur, dry Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.46 mg 14%
1005 Nuts, beechnuts, dried Nut and Seed Products 2.46 mg 14%
1006 Cookies, chocolate chip, prepared from recipe, made with margarine Baked Products 2.46 mg 14%
1007 Archway Home Style Cookies, Oatmeal Baked Products 2.45 mg 14%
1008 Lima beans, immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.45 mg 14%
1009 Muffins, English, whole-wheat Baked Products 2.45 mg 14%
1010 Lima beans, immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.45 mg 14%
1011 Snacks, granola bars, soft, uncoated, raisin Snacks 2.44 mg 14%
1012 Snacks, oriental mix, rice-based Snacks 2.44 mg 14%
1013 Sweet rolls, cinnamon, refrigerated dough with frosting Baked Products 2.44 mg 14%
1014 Rice and vermicelli mix, rice pilaf flavor, unprepared Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes 2.44 mg 14%
1015 Nuts, brazilnuts, dried, unblanched Nut and Seed Products 2.43 mg 14%
1016 Nuts, coconut meat, raw Nut and Seed Products 2.43 mg 14%
1017 Crackers, crispbread, rye Baked Products 2.43 mg 14%
1018 Cake, coffeecake, fruit Baked Products 2.43 mg 14%
1019 Cookies, shortbread, commercially prepared, pecan Baked Products 2.43 mg 14%
1020 Rolls, dinner, whole-wheat Baked Products 2.42 mg 13%
1021 Doughnuts, french crullers, glazed Baked Products 2.42 mg 13%
1022 Bacon, meatless Legumes and Legume Products 2.41 mg 13%
1023 McDONALD'S, QUARTER POUNDER Fast Foods 2.41 mg 13%
1024 Veggie burgers or soyburgers, unprepared Legumes and Legume Products 2.41 mg 13%
1025 Lima beans, thin seeded (baby), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.40 mg 13%
1026 Archway Home Style Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Baked Products 2.40 mg 13%
1027 Snacks, potato chips, fat-free, made with olestra Snacks 2.40 mg 13%
1028 Fireweed, leaves, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13%
1029 Lima beans, thin seeded (baby), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.40 mg 13%
1030 Dock, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13%
1031 Nuts, formulated, wheat-based, unflavored, with salt added Nut and Seed Products 2.40 mg 13%
1032 Peas, edible-podded, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13%
1033 Peas, edible-podded, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13%
1034 Nuts, chestnuts, european, dried, peeled Nut and Seed Products 2.39 mg 13%
1035 Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13%
1036 Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13%
1037 Soy sauce made from soy (tamari) Legumes and Legume Products 2.38 mg 13%
1038 Cookies, oatmeal, refrigerated dough, baked Baked Products 2.38 mg 13%
1039 Cookies, vanilla wafers, lower fat Baked Products 2.38 mg 13%
1040 Corn flour, whole-grain, yellow Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13%
1041 Potato soup, instant, dry mix Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 2.38 mg 13%
1042 Nuts, chestnuts, european, dried, unpeeled Nut and Seed Products 2.38 mg 13%
1043 Corn flour, whole-grain, white Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13%
1044 Infant formula, NESTLE, GOOD START SOY, with DHA and ARA, liquid concentrate Baby Foods 2.38 mg 13%
1045 TACO BELL, Bean Burrito Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13%
1046 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13%
1047 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, soy, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13%
1048 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13%
1049 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13%
1050 Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature seeds, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.35 mg 13%

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