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 2301–2350 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
2301 Peas, edible-podded (snow peas), frozen, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2302 Fireweed, native, leaves, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2303 Beans, lima, dry, baby, boiled, salted Legumes and Legume Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2304 Beans, lima, dry, baby, boiled Legumes and Legume Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2305 Nuts, simulated product, wheat-based, unflavoured, with salt Nuts and Seeds 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2306 Dock (sorrel), raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2307 Peas, edible-podded (snow peas), frozen, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2308 Cereal, ready to eat, Granola: Blueberry, light, Rogers Breakfast cereals 2.40 mg 13% CNF
2309 Crackers, standard snack-type, sandwich, with cheese filling Baked Products 2.39 mg 13% USDA_SR
2310 Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13% USDA_SR
2311 Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13% USDA_SR
2312 Muffins, plain, prepared from recipe, made with low fat (2%) milk Baked Products 2.39 mg 13% USDA_SR
2313 Nuts, chestnuts, european, dried, peeled Nut and Seed Products 2.39 mg 13% USDA_SR
2314 Muffin, plain, homemade, made with 2% milk Baked Products 2.39 mg 13% CNF
2315 Cracker, standard snack-type, sandwich, with cheese filling Baked Products 2.39 mg 13% CNF
2316 Beans, lima, dry, large, boiled, salted Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13% CNF
2317 Beans, lima, dry, large, boiled Legumes and Legume Products 2.39 mg 13% CNF
2318 Nuts, European chestnuts (sweet), dried, peeled Nuts and Seeds 2.39 mg 13% CNF
2319 Cookies, vanilla wafers, lower fat Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2320 Cookies, oatmeal, refrigerated dough, baked Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2321 Soy sauce made from soy (tamari) Legumes and Legume Products 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2322 Doughnuts, yeast-leavened, glazed, enriched (includes honey buns) Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2323 Potato soup, instant, dry mix Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2324 Infant formula, NESTLE, GOOD START SOY, with DHA and ARA, liquid concentrate Baby Foods 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2325 Nuts, chestnuts, european, dried, unpeeled Nut and Seed Products 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2326 Corn flour, whole-grain, yellow Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2327 Corn flour, whole-grain, white Cereal Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13% USDA_SR
2328 Cookie, oatmeal, refrigerated dough, prepared Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2329 Soup, potato, instant, dehydrated, unprepared Soups, Sauces and Gravies 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2330 Grains, corn flour, yellow, whole-grain Cereals, Grains and Pasta 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2331 Doughnut (donut), yeast-leavened (honey bun), glazed Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2332 Cookie, vanilla wafer, 12 to 17% fat Baked Products 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2333 Soy sauce (made from soy), tamari Legumes and Legume Products 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2334 Nuts, European chestnuts (sweet), dried, unpeeled Nuts and Seeds 2.38 mg 13% CNF
2335 Nuts, pecans, halves, raw Nut and Seed Products 2.37 mg 13% USDA_FF
2336 Fast foods, burrito, with beans and cheese Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13% USDA_SR
2337 TACO BELL, Bean Burrito Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13% USDA_SR
2338 Fast foods, sandwiches and burgers, cheeseburger, regular, double patty, plain Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13% CNF
2339 Fast foods, mexican, burrito with beans and cheese Fast Foods 2.37 mg 13% CNF
2340 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13% USDA_SR
2341 Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13% USDA_SR
2342 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, soy, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13% USDA_SR
2343 Infant formula, PBM PRODUCTS, store brand, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted Baby Foods 2.36 mg 13% USDA_SR
2344 Macaroni or noodles with cheese, microwaveable, unprepared Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes 2.36 mg 13% USDA_SR
2345 Fast foods, hot dog, plain Fast Foods 2.36 mg 13% CNF
2346 Beans, navy, boiled, salted Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13% CNF
2347 Beans, navy, boiled Legumes and Legume Products 2.36 mg 13% CNF
2348 Fast foods, cheeseburger; double, regular patty; with condiments Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13% USDA_SR
2349 DIGIORNO Pizza, cheese topping, cheese stuffed crust, frozen, baked Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13% USDA_SR
2350 McDONALD'S, Cheeseburger Fast Foods 2.35 mg 13% USDA_SR

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