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 2401–2450 of 8,274 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV Source
2401 Instant breakfast, powder, chocolate, sugar-free, with artificial sweetener Beverages 2.30 mg 13% CNF
2402 Chrysanthemum leaves, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.30 mg 13% CNF
2403 Beans, pink, boiled, salted Legumes and Legume Products 2.30 mg 13% CNF
2404 Beans, pink, boiled Legumes and Legume Products 2.30 mg 13% CNF
2405 Spinach, canned, drained solids Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.30 mg 13% CNF
2406 Cookies, raisin, soft-type Baked Products 2.29 mg 13% USDA_SR
2407 Nuts, chestnuts, chinese, dried Nut and Seed Products 2.29 mg 13% USDA_SR
2408 Chrysanthemum, garland, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.29 mg 13% USDA_SR
2409 Candies, milk chocolate coated coffee beans Sweets 2.29 mg 13% USDA_SR
2410 Corn, white, steamed (Navajo) American Indian/Alaska Native Foods 2.29 mg 13% USDA_SR
2411 Candies, milk chocolate coated coffee beans Sweets 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2412 Fast foods, sandwiches and burgers, cheeseburger, large, double patty, with condiments and vegetables Fast Foods 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2413 Fast foods, mexican, burrito with beans, cheese and chili peppers Fast Foods 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2414 Cookie, raisin, soft-type Baked Products 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2415 Nuts, Chinese chestnuts, dried Nuts and Seeds 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2416 Chrysanthemum, garland, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.29 mg 13% CNF
2417 Cookies, oatmeal, soft, with raisins Baked Products 2.28 mg 13% USDA_FF
2418 Beverages, malted drink mix, chocolate, powder Beverages 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2419 Snacks, popcorn, microwave, low fat Snacks 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2420 Peanuts, spanish, oil-roasted, without salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2421 Peanuts, spanish, oil-roasted, with salt Legumes and Legume Products 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2422 Nuts, coconut cream, raw (liquid expressed from grated meat) Nut and Seed Products 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2423 Popcorn, microwave, low fat and sodium Snacks 2.28 mg 13% USDA_SR
2424 Snacks, popcorn, microwave, low fat and sodium Snacks 2.28 mg 13% CNF
2425 Peanuts, Spanish, oil-roasted Legumes and Legume Products 2.28 mg 13% CNF
2426 Peanuts, Spanish, oil-roasted, salted Legumes and Legume Products 2.28 mg 13% CNF
2427 Malted milk, chocolate flavour, powder Beverages 2.28 mg 13% CNF
2428 Nuts, coconut cream (liquid from grated meat), raw Nuts and Seeds 2.28 mg 13% CNF
2429 Doughnuts, cake-type, chocolate, sugared or glazed Baked Products 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2430 Pillsbury, Crusty French Loaf, refrigerated dough Baked Products 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2431 Muffins, blueberry, prepared from recipe, made with low fat (2%) milk Baked Products 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2432 Pizza, cheese topping, regular crust, frozen, cooked Fast Foods 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2433 Snacks, potato sticks Snacks 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2434 Edamame, frozen, prepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2435 Elk, free range, roast, eye of round, raw (Shoshone Bannock) American Indian/Alaska Native Foods 2.27 mg 13% USDA_SR
2436 Soybeans, green (edamame), frozen, prepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.27 mg 13% CNF
2437 Fast foods, pizza, cheese, regular crust, frozen, cooked Fast Foods 2.27 mg 13% CNF
2438 Snacks, potato sticks Snacks 2.27 mg 13% CNF
2439 Muffin, blueberry, homemade, with 2% milk Baked Products 2.27 mg 13% CNF
2440 Tomatoes, crushed, canned Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.27 mg 13% USDA_FF
2441 Beverages, tea, instant, decaffeinated, unsweetened Beverages 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2442 Archway Home Style Cookies, Date Filled Oatmeal Baked Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2443 Beverages, tea, instant, unsweetened, powder Beverages 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2444 Peas, mature seeds, sprouted, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2445 Chard, swiss, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2446 Peaches, dehydrated (low-moisture), sulfured, stewed Fruits and Fruit Juices 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2447 Chard, swiss, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2448 Amaranth leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2449 Amaranth leaves, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR
2450 Pie crust, deep dish, frozen, unbaked, made with enriched flour Baked Products 2.26 mg 13% USDA_SR

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