Vegetarian foods high in Iron

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 5801–5850 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
5801 Rutabaga (swede), raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5802 Carrot, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5803 Squash, winter, all varieties, baked Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5804 Squash, summer, crookneck, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5805 Mushroom, shiitake, cooked Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5806 Cheese, mozzarella, (52% water, 22.5% M.F.) Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5807 Cheese, ricotta, with partly skimmed milk Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5808 Cheese, edam Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2% CNF
5809 Cabbage, bok choy, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2% USDA_FF
5810 Ketchup, restaurant Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_FF
5811 Carrots, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_FF
5812 Carrots, frozen, unprepared (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_FF
5813 Soymilk, original and vanilla, light, with added calcium, vitamins A and D Legumes and Legume Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5814 Soy sauce, reduced sodium, made from hydrolyzed vegetable protein Legumes and Legume Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5815 Cheese, brick Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5816 Boysenberries, canned, heavy syrup Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5817 Apricots, canned, heavy syrup pack, without skin, solids and liquids Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5818 Apples, dehydrated (low moisture), sulfured, stewed Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5819 Cheese, port de salut Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5820 Peppers, sweet, red, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5821 Beans, mung, mature seeds, sprouted, canned, drained solids Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5822 Celeriac, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5823 Celeriac, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5824 Cheese, pasteurized process, American, low fat Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5825 APPLEBEE'S, mozzarella sticks Restaurant Foods 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5826 Mountain yam, hawaii, cooked, steamed, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5827 Mountain yam, hawaii, cooked, steamed, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5828 Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5829 Durian, raw or frozen Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5830 Blueberries, canned, light syrup, drained Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5831 Maraschino cherries, canned, drained Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.43 mg 2% USDA_SR
5832 Babyfood, fruit, jarred, banana and other fruit Babyfoods 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5833 Soy sauce (made with hydrolyzed vegetable protein), reduced sodium Legumes and Legume Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5834 Celeriac, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5835 Cheese, processed product, swiss, slices, low fat Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5836 Candied, maraschino cherries, jar, drained Sweets 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5837 Durian, raw or frozen Fruits and fruit juices 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5838 Pepper, sweet, red, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5839 Beans, mung, mature seeds, sprouted, bean sprouts, canned, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5840 Celeriac, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5841 Balsam-pear (bitter gourd, bitter melon), pods, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5842 Boysenberry, canned, heavy syrup pack, solids and liquid Fruits and fruit juices 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5843 Apricot, canned whole no skin, heavy syrup pack, solids and liquid Fruits and fruit juices 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5844 Apple, dehydrated (low moisture), sulphured, cooked Fruits and fruit juices 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5845 Cheese, port-salut Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5846 Cheese, brick Dairy and Egg Products 0.43 mg 2% CNF
5847 Beets, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.43 mg 2% USDA_FF
5848 Sauce, salsa, ready-to-serve Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 0.42 mg 2% USDA_FF
5849 Sauce, salsa, ready-to-serve Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 0.42 mg 2% USDA_FF
5850 Strudel, apple Baked Products 0.42 mg 2% USDA_SR

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