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 1351–1400 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
1351 Crackers, melba toast, rye (includes pumpernickel) Baked Products 3.68 mg 20% USDA_SR
1352 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, without salt added Nut and Seed Products 3.68 mg 20% USDA_SR
1353 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, with salt added Nut and Seed Products 3.68 mg 20% USDA_SR
1354 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, lightly salted Nut and Seed Products 3.68 mg 20% USDA_SR
1355 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, lightly salted Nuts and Seeds 3.68 mg 20% CNF
1356 Cracker, melba toast, rye (includes pumpernickel) Baked Products 3.68 mg 20% CNF
1357 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, unblanched, salted Nuts and Seeds 3.68 mg 20% CNF
1358 Nuts, almonds, oil roasted, unblanched Nuts and Seeds 3.68 mg 20% CNF
1359 Cereal, ready to eat, Heritage O's, Nature's Path Breakfast cereals 3.68 mg 20% CNF
1360 Cookies, gluten-free, chocolate wafer Baked Products 3.67 mg 20% USDA_SR
1361 Seeds, breadfruit seeds, raw Nut and Seed Products 3.67 mg 20% USDA_SR
1362 Glutino, Gluten Free Wafers, Milk Chocolate Baked Products 3.67 mg 20% USDA_SR
1363 Seeds, breadfruit seeds, raw Nuts and Seeds 3.67 mg 20% CNF
1364 Nuts, almond butter, honey and cinnamon, salted Nuts and Seeds 3.66 mg 20% CNF
1365 Egg, quail, whole, fresh, raw Dairy and Egg Products 3.65 mg 20% USDA_SR
1366 Crackers, standard snack-type, with whole wheat Baked Products 3.65 mg 20% USDA_SR
1367 Cracker, standard snack-type, with whole-wheat Baked Products 3.65 mg 20% CNF
1368 Egg, quail, whole, fresh, raw Dairy and Egg Products 3.65 mg 20% CNF
1369 Egg, goose, whole, fresh, raw Dairy and Egg Products 3.64 mg 20% USDA_SR
1370 Borage, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.64 mg 20% USDA_SR
1371 Agave, dried (Southwest) American Indian/Alaska Native Foods 3.64 mg 20% USDA_SR
1372 Borage, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.64 mg 20% USDA_SR
1373 Borage, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.64 mg 20% CNF
1374 Agave, dried Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.64 mg 20% CNF
1375 Bread, rye Baked Products 3.64 mg 20% CNF
1376 Borage, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.64 mg 20% CNF
1377 Egg, goose, whole, fresh, raw Dairy and Egg Products 3.64 mg 20% CNF
1378 Tortillas, ready-to-bake or -fry, flour, refrigerated Baked Products 3.63 mg 20% USDA_SR
1379 Babyfood, cereal, rice, with bananas, prepared with whole milk Baby Foods 3.63 mg 20% USDA_SR
1380 Babyfood, cereal, mixed, with bananas, prepared with whole milk Baby Foods 3.63 mg 20% USDA_SR
1381 Babyfood, cereal, rice, prepared with whole milk Baby Foods 3.63 mg 20% USDA_SR
1382 Babyfood, cereal, oatmeal, with bananas, prepared with whole milk Baby Foods 3.63 mg 20% USDA_SR
1383 Pasta, spaghetti, whole-wheat, dry Cereals, Grains and Pasta 3.63 mg 20% CNF
1384 Pasta, macaroni (elbow), whole wheat, dry Cereals, Grains and Pasta 3.63 mg 20% CNF
1385 Bread, white, commercial Baked Products 3.63 mg 20% CNF
1386 Bread, white, commercial, reduced sodium Baked Products 3.63 mg 20% CNF
1387 Pasta, whole-wheat, dry (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.62 mg 20% USDA_SR
1388 Bread, white, commercially prepared (includes soft bread crumbs) Baked Products 3.61 mg 20% USDA_SR
1389 Bread, rice bran Baked Products 3.61 mg 20% USDA_SR
1390 Burrito, bean and cheese, microwaved Mixed Dishes 3.61 mg 20% CNF
1391 Bread, rice bran, gluten free Baked Products 3.61 mg 20% CNF
1392 Crackers, standard snack-type, regular, low salt Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1393 Ice cream cones, cake or wafer-type Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1394 Cake, snack cakes, creme-filled, chocolate with frosting Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1395 Formulated bar, ZONE PERFECT CLASSIC CRUNCH BAR, mixed flavors Snacks 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1396 Pancakes, plain, dry mix, complete (includes buttermilk) Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1397 Muffins, wheat bran, dry mix Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1398 Bread, wheat Baked Products 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1399 Barley, hulled Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR
1400 Wheat flour, whole-grain (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.60 mg 20% USDA_SR

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