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 1451–1500 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
1451 Prunes, dehydrated (low-moisture), uncooked Fruits and Fruit Juices 3.52 mg 20% USDA_SR
1452 Cereal, ready to eat, Hemp Plus Granola, Nature's Path Breakfast cereals 3.52 mg 20% CNF
1453 Grains, wheat, durum Cereals, Grains and Pasta 3.52 mg 20% CNF
1454 Roll, dinner, egg Baked Products 3.52 mg 20% CNF
1455 Prune, dehydrated (low moisture), uncooked Fruits and fruit juices 3.52 mg 20% CNF
1456 Cereals ready-to-eat, POST SELECTS Maple Pecan Crunch Breakfast Cereals 3.50 mg 19% USDA_SR
1457 Cookies, chocolate chip, commercially prepared, special dietary Baked Products 3.50 mg 19% USDA_SR
1458 Potatoes, mashed, dehydrated, granules with milk, dry form Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.50 mg 19% USDA_SR
1459 Cereal, hot, oats, instant: golden honey with bran, prepared, Quaker Breakfast cereals 3.50 mg 19% CNF
1460 Potato, mashed, dehydrated, granules with milk, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.50 mg 19% CNF
1461 Babyfood, cereal, barley, prepared with whole milk Baby Foods 3.49 mg 19% USDA_SR
1462 Nuts, almond butter, plain, with salt added Nut and Seed Products 3.49 mg 19% USDA_SR
1463 Nuts, almond butter, plain, without salt added Nut and Seed Products 3.49 mg 19% USDA_SR
1464 Nuts, almond butter, plain, salted Nuts and Seeds 3.49 mg 19% CNF
1465 Nuts, almond butter, plain Nuts and Seeds 3.49 mg 19% CNF
1466 Cereal, ready to eat, Shredded Wheat, Post Breakfast cereals 3.49 mg 19% CNF
1467 Crackers, toast thins, low sodium Baked Products 3.48 mg 19% USDA_SR
1468 Tomato products, canned, sauce, spanish style Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.48 mg 19% USDA_SR
1469 Cereal, ready to eat, Kashi: high fibre flakes and granola, Kashi Breakfast cereals 3.48 mg 19% CNF
1470 Tomato products, canned, sauce, spanish style Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.48 mg 19% CNF
1471 Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, COCOAVIA Chocolate Bar Sweets 3.47 mg 19% USDA_SR
1472 Mushrooms, Chanterelle, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.47 mg 19% USDA_SR
1473 Mushroom, Chanterelle, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 3.47 mg 19% CNF
1474 Cracker, wheat, low fat Baked Products 3.47 mg 19% CNF
1475 Nuts, hazelnuts or filberts, raw Nut and Seed Products 3.46 mg 19% USDA_FF
1476 Crackers, cheese, whole grain Baked Products 3.46 mg 19% USDA_SR
1477 Cereals ready-to-eat, POST, Shredded Wheat, lightly frosted, spoon-size Breakfast Cereals 3.46 mg 19% USDA_SR
1478 Cracker, cheese, whole-grain Baked Products 3.46 mg 19% CNF
1479 Nuts, pistachio nuts, raw Nut and Seed Products 3.46 mg 19% USDA_FF
1480 Bread, Italian Baked Products 3.45 mg 19% USDA_SR
1481 Cornmeal, whole-grain, white Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.45 mg 19% USDA_SR
1482 Cornmeal, whole-grain, yellow Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.45 mg 19% USDA_SR
1483 Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, COCOAVIA Crispy Chocolate Bar Sweets 3.45 mg 19% USDA_SR
1484 Grains, cornmeal (yellow), whole-grain Cereals, Grains and Pasta 3.45 mg 19% CNF
1485 Bread, wheat germ Baked Products 3.45 mg 19% CNF
1486 Bread, Italian Baked Products 3.44 mg 19% CNF
1487 Chili with beans, canned Legumes and Legume Products 3.43 mg 19% USDA_SR
1488 Bread, oat bran, toasted Baked Products 3.43 mg 19% USDA_SR
1489 Nuts, mixed nuts, dry roasted, with peanuts, salt added, PLANTERS pistachio blend Nut and Seed Products 3.43 mg 19% USDA_SR
1490 Chili with beans, canned Legumes and Legume Products 3.43 mg 19% CNF
1491 Tart, breakfast, low fat Baked Products 3.42 mg 19% USDA_SR
1492 Falafel, home-prepared Legumes and Legume Products 3.42 mg 19% USDA_SR
1493 Bread, whole grain (whole-wheat), +seeds and bran, commercial, toasted Baked Products 3.42 mg 19% CNF
1494 Breakfast tart, low fat Baked Products 3.42 mg 19% CNF
1495 Falafel, homemade Legumes and Legume Products 3.42 mg 19% CNF
1496 Pasta, whole grain, 51% whole wheat, remaining enriched semolina, dry (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) Cereal Grains and Pasta 3.41 mg 19% USDA_SR
1497 Bread, white, commercial, with added fibre Baked Products 3.41 mg 19% CNF
1498 Cereal, ready to eat, Vanilla Almond Granola, Nature's Path Breakfast cereals 3.41 mg 19% CNF
1499 Cereal, hot, oats, instant: Wild Berry Medley, prepared, Quaker Breakfast cereals 3.41 mg 19% CNF
1500 Beans, french, mature seeds, raw Legumes and Legume Products 3.40 mg 19% USDA_SR

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