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 7451–7500 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
7451 Cheese, cheddar, reduced fat (18%) Dairy and Egg Products 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7452 Vegetable oil, corn, peanut and olive Fats and Oils 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7453 Salad dressing, italian, calorie-reduced Fats and Oils 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7454 Salad dressing, creamy, made with sour cream and/or buttermilk and oil, calorie-reduced Fats and Oils 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7455 Coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared, decaffeinated Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7456 Hot chocolate, rich, mix, powder, prepared with water Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7457 Coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant prepared Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7458 Dessert, pudding, lemon, dry mix, regular, prepared Sweets 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7459 Dessert, frozen, ices, water, fruit, with aspartame Sweets 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7460 Candies, jellybeans Sweets 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7461 Drink, grape, vitamin C added, canned Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7462 Coffee, instant, sweetened, mocha flavour, powder, water added Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7463 Alcohol, liqueur, coffee and cream (17% alcohol by volume) Beverages 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7464 Nuts, coconut cream (liquid from grated meat), sweetened, canned Nuts and Seeds 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7465 Onion, canned, solids and liquid Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7466 Orange juice, chilled, includes from concentrate Fruits and fruit juices 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7467 Orange, california, navel, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7468 Longan, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7469 Lemon juice, canned or bottled Fruits and fruit juices 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7470 Vanilla extract, imitation, with alcohol Spices and Herbs 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7471 Cheese, cottage, (2% M.F.) Dairy and Egg Products 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7472 Cheese, neufchatel Dairy and Egg Products 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7473 Cheese, limburger Dairy and Egg Products 0.13 mg 1% CNF
7474 Cranberry juice, not fortified, from concentrate, shelf stable Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.13 mg 1% USDA_FF
7475 Almond milk, unsweetened, plain, refrigerated Beverages 0.12 mg 1% USDA_FF
7476 Alcoholic beverage, distilled, rum, 80 proof Beverages 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7477 Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, Florida Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7478 Apple juice, canned or bottled, unsweetened, without added ascorbic acid Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7479 Margarine, margarine-type vegetable oil spread, 70% fat, soybean and partially hydrogenated soybean, stick Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7480 Margarine, 80% fat, stick, includes regular and hydrogenated corn and soybean oils Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7481 Vanilla extract Spices and Herbs 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7482 Yogurt, vanilla or lemon flavor, nonfat milk, sweetened with low-calorie sweetener Dairy and Egg Products 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7483 Margarine, industrial, soy and partially hydrogenated soy oil, use for baking, sauces and candy Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7484 Yogurt, vanilla or lemon flavor, nonfat milk, sweetened with low-calorie sweetener, fortified with vitamin D Dairy and Egg Products 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7485 Beverages, OCEAN SPRAY, Cran Pomegranate Beverages 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7486 Beverages, Eggnog-flavor mix, powder, prepared with whole milk Beverages 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7487 Applesauce, canned, sweetened, without salt Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7488 Apples, raw, with skin (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7489 Salad dressing, mayonnaise-type, light Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7490 Salad dressing, mayonnaise type, regular, with salt Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7491 Cheese, cheddar, reduced fat (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Dairy and Egg Products 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7492 Milk, indian buffalo, fluid Dairy and Egg Products 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7493 Salad dressing, KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP FREE Nonfat Dressing Fats and Oils 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7494 Dessert topping, semi solid, frozen Dairy and Egg Products 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7495 Puddings, tapioca, dry mix, with no added salt Sweets 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7496 Toppings, pineapple Sweets 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7497 Puddings, banana, dry mix, instant Sweets 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7498 Puddings, tapioca, dry mix Sweets 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7499 Puddings, banana, dry mix, instant, with added oil Sweets 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR
7500 Apples, raw, gala, with skin (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Fruits and Fruit Juices 0.12 mg 1% USDA_SR

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