Vegetarian 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 1201–1250 of 4,377 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV
1201 Infant formula, NESTLE, GOOD START SOY, with DHA and ARA, liquid concentrate Baby Foods 2.38 mg 13%
1202 Potato soup, instant, dry mix Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 2.38 mg 13%
1203 Corn flour, whole-grain, white Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13%
1204 Doughnuts, yeast-leavened, glazed, enriched (includes honey buns) Baked Products 2.38 mg 13%
1205 Soy sauce made from soy (tamari) Legumes and Legume Products 2.38 mg 13%
1206 Cookies, oatmeal, refrigerated dough, baked Baked Products 2.38 mg 13%
1207 Cookies, vanilla wafers, lower fat Baked Products 2.38 mg 13%
1208 Fast foods, burrito, with beans and cheese Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13%
1209 TACO BELL, Bean Burrito Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13%
1210 Macaroni or noodles with cheese, microwaveable, unprepared Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes 2.36 mg 13%
1211 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13%
1212 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, soy, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13%
1213 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13%
1214 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13%
1215 Fast foods, cheeseburger; double, regular patty; with condiments Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13%
1216 Candies, milk chocolate Sweets 2.35 mg 13%
1217 DIGIORNO Pizza, cheese topping, cheese stuffed crust, frozen, baked Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13%
1218 McDONALD'S, Cheeseburger Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13%
1219 Fast foods, cheeseburger, double, regular patty and bun, with condiments Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13%
1220 Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature seeds, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.35 mg 13%
1221 Pillsbury Grands, Buttermilk Biscuits, refrigerated dough Baked Products 2.34 mg 13%
1222 LITTLE CAESARS 14" Original Round Cheese Pizza, Regular Crust Fast Foods 2.34 mg 13%
1223 DOMINO'S 14" Cheese Pizza, Classic Hand-Tossed Crust Fast Foods 2.34 mg 13%
1224 Snacks, granola bars, soft, coated, milk chocolate coating, chocolate chip Snacks 2.33 mg 13%
1225 BURGER KING, Double Cheeseburger Fast Foods 2.33 mg 13%
1226 Infant Formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, Premium LIPIL, Infant, Liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.33 mg 13%
1227 Snacks, tortilla chips, unsalted, white corn Snacks 2.32 mg 13%
1228 Amaranth leaves, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.32 mg 13%
1229 Drumstick leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.32 mg 13%
1230 Drumstick leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.32 mg 13%
1231 Infant Formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, Premium, Infant, Liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.32 mg 13%
1232 DOMINO'S 14" EXTRAVAGANZZA FEAST Pizza, Classic Hand-Tossed Crust Fast Foods 2.32 mg 13%
1233 Archway Home Style Cookies, Raspberry Filled Baked Products 2.32 mg 13%
1234 Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, SENSITIVE, (LACTOSE FREE), liquid concentrate, with ARA and DHA Baby Foods 2.32 mg 13%
1235 Archway Home Style Cookies, Strawberry Filled Baked Products 2.32 mg 13%
1236 LITTLE CAESARS 14" Cheese Pizza, Large Deep Dish Crust Fast Foods 2.31 mg 13%
1237 Waffles, plain, prepared from recipe Baked Products 2.31 mg 13%
1238 Fast foods, cheeseburger; single, large patty; with condiments, vegetables and mayonnaise Fast Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1239 Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, with iron, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1240 Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, ADVANCE, with iron, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1241 McDONALD'S, Egg McMUFFIN Fast Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1242 Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, ISOMIL, with iron, liquid concentrate Baby Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1243 Beans, pink, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.30 mg 13%
1244 Bread, reduced-calorie, oatmeal Baked Products 2.30 mg 13%
1245 Cookies, oatmeal, with raisins Baked Products 2.30 mg 13%
1246 Beans, pink, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.30 mg 13%
1247 WENDY'S, DAVE'S Hot 'N Juicy 1/4 LB, single Fast Foods 2.30 mg 13%
1248 Beverage, instant breakfast powder, chocolate, sugar-free, not reconstituted Dairy and Egg Products 2.30 mg 13%
1249 Spinach, canned, regular pack, drained solids Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.30 mg 13%
1250 Chrysanthemum leaves, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.30 mg 13%

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