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 901–950 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
901 Archway Home Style Cookies, Old Fashioned Molasses Baked Products 4.99 mg 28% USDA_SR
902 Bread, sprouted wheat with added calcium and vitamin D, commercial Baked Products 4.99 mg 28% CNF
903 Grains, wheat flour, white, all purpose, unbleached Cereals, Grains and Pasta 4.99 mg 28% CNF
904 Beans, adzuki, mature seeds, raw Legumes and Legume Products 4.98 mg 28% USDA_SR
905 Formulated bar, SLIM-FAST OPTIMA meal bar, milk chocolate peanut Snacks 4.98 mg 28% USDA_SR
906 Cereals, CREAM OF WHEAT, 2 1/2 minute cook time, cooked with water, microwaved, without salt Breakfast Cereals 4.98 mg 28% USDA_SR
907 Beans, adzuki, raw Legumes and Legume Products 4.98 mg 28% CNF
908 Rye flour, dark Cereal Grains and Pasta 4.97 mg 28% USDA_SR
909 Beverages, Cocoa mix, low calorie, powder, with added calcium, phosphorus, aspartame, without added sodium or vitamin A Beverages 4.96 mg 28% USDA_SR
910 Cereals, CREAM OF WHEAT, instant, prepared with water, without salt Breakfast Cereals 4.96 mg 28% USDA_SR
911 Beverages, Cocoa mix, no sugar added, powder Beverages 4.96 mg 28% USDA_SR
912 Hot chocolate, low calorie, with aspartame, mix, powder, with added calcium and phosphorus, without added sodium or vitamin A Beverages 4.96 mg 28% CNF
913 Hot chocolate, with aspartame, mix, powder Beverages 4.96 mg 28% CNF
914 Beans, Dry, Small Red (0% moisture) Legumes and Legume Products 4.95 mg 28% USDA_FF
915 Beans, Dry, Small Red (0% moisture) Legumes and Legume Products 4.95 mg 28% USDA_FF
916 Cornmeal, white, self-rising, bolted, with wheat flour added, enriched Cereal Grains and Pasta 4.95 mg 28% USDA_SR
917 Cornmeal, yellow, self-rising, bolted, with wheat flour added, enriched Cereal Grains and Pasta 4.95 mg 28% USDA_SR
918 Beans, Dry, Small White (0% moisture) Legumes and Legume Products 4.93 mg 27% USDA_FF
919 Beans, Dry, Small White (0% moisture) Legumes and Legume Products 4.93 mg 27% USDA_FF
920 Bread, crumbs, dry, grated, seasoned Baked Products 4.92 mg 27% USDA_SR
921 Nuts, almonds, toasted, unblanched Nuts and Seeds 4.92 mg 27% CNF
922 Nuts, cashew butter, plain, with salt added Nut and Seed Products 4.91 mg 27% USDA_SR
923 Nuts, cashew butter, plain, salted Nuts and Seeds 4.91 mg 27% CNF
924 Nabisco, Nabisco Oreo Crunchies, Cookie Crumb Topping Baked Products 4.90 mg 27% USDA_SR
925 Muffins, English, raisin-cinnamon, toasted (includes apple-cinnamon) Baked Products 4.90 mg 27% USDA_SR
926 Seeds, safflower seed kernels, dried Nut and Seed Products 4.90 mg 27% USDA_SR
927 Snacks, corn-based, extruded, chips, barbecue-flavor, made with enriched masa flour Snacks 4.90 mg 27% USDA_SR
928 English muffin, raisin-cinnamon, (apple cinnamon) toasted Baked Products 4.90 mg 27% CNF
929 Seeds, safflower seed kernels, dried Nuts and Seeds 4.90 mg 27% CNF
930 Bread, white wheat Baked Products 4.89 mg 27% USDA_SR
931 Crackers, cheese, regular Baked Products 4.88 mg 27% USDA_SR
932 Cereals, CREAM OF WHEAT, 1 minute cook time, cooked with water, microwaved, without salt Breakfast Cereals 4.88 mg 27% USDA_SR
933 Cracker, cheese Baked Products 4.88 mg 27% CNF
934 Tofu, fried, prepared with calcium sulfate Legumes and Legume Products 4.87 mg 27% USDA_SR
935 Tofu, fried Legumes and Legume Products 4.87 mg 27% USDA_SR
936 Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, Baked Snack Crackers, Pizza Baked Products 4.87 mg 27% USDA_SR
937 Tofu, fried (prepared with calcium sulphate) Legumes and Legume Products 4.87 mg 27% CNF
938 Tofu, fried Legumes and Legume Products 4.87 mg 27% CNF
939 Chickpea flour (besan) Legumes and Legume Products 4.86 mg 27% USDA_SR
940 Seeds, safflower seed meal, partially defatted Nut and Seed Products 4.86 mg 27% USDA_SR
941 Breakfast bar, corn flake crust with fruit Snacks 4.86 mg 27% USDA_SR
942 Breakfast bar, corn flake crust with fruit Baked Products 4.86 mg 27% CNF
943 Chickpea flour (besan) Legumes and Legume Products 4.86 mg 27% CNF
944 Seeds, safflower seed meal, partially defatted Nuts and Seeds 4.86 mg 27% CNF
945 Bread, crumbs, dry, grated, plain Baked Products 4.83 mg 27% USDA_SR
946 Bread crumbs, dry, grated, plain Baked Products 4.83 mg 27% CNF
947 Peas, split, raw Legumes and Legume Products 4.82 mg 27% CNF
948 Snacks, tortilla chips, low fat, made with olestra, nacho cheese Snacks 4.80 mg 27% USDA_SR
949 Crackers, cheese, reduced fat Baked Products 4.80 mg 27% USDA_SR
950 Owl, horned, flesh, raw (Alaska Native) American Indian/Alaska Native Foods 4.80 mg 27% USDA_SR

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