Vegetarian foods high in Iron (Canadian (CNF))

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 2501–2550 of 3,595 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV
2501 Collards, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2502 Beans, yardlong, (asparagus bean or cowpea), raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2503 Potato, O'brien, homemade Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2504 Cabbage, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2505 Corn, sweet, yellow, frozen, kernels cut off the cob, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2506 Potato puff, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2507 Squash, winter, hubbard, baked Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2508 Corn, sweet, yellow, frozen, kernels cut off the cob, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2509 Cheesecake, prepared from mix, no bake type Baked Products 0.47 mg 3%
2510 Grains, cornstarch Cereals, Grains and Pasta 0.47 mg 3%
2511 Tomato, orange, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2512 Pepper, sweet, red, sauteed Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.47 mg 3%
2513 Dessert, frozen, juice, orange Sweets 0.47 mg 3%
2514 Dessert, frozen yogourt Sweets 0.46 mg 3%
2515 Orange grapefruit juice, canned Fruits and fruit juices 0.46 mg 3%
2516 Onion, frozen, whole, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2517 Carrot juice, canned Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2518 Pepper, sweet, yellow, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2519 Pepper, sweet, green, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2520 Pepper, sweet, green, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2521 Pepper, sweet, red, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2522 Pepper, sweet, red, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2523 Alcohol, table wine, red (11.5% alcohol by volume) Beverages 0.46 mg 3%
2524 Milk shake (fast food), vanilla Beverages 0.46 mg 3%
2525 Pie, banana cream, prepared from mix, no-bake type Baked Products 0.46 mg 3%
2526 Dessert, frozen, pudding pop, chocolate Sweets 0.46 mg 3%
2527 Grains, rice, white, long-grain, pre-cooked or instant, enriched, prepared Cereals, Grains and Pasta 0.46 mg 3%
2528 Pepper, banana, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2529 Pepper, Hungarian, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.46 mg 3%
2530 Soup, tomato, canned, condensed, 2% M.F. milk added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.46 mg 3%
2531 Dessert, frozen yogourt, chocolate Sweets 0.46 mg 3%
2532 Plant-based beverage, soy, enriched, all flavours, unsweetened Beverages 0.46 mg 3%
2533 Soup, tomato, canned, condensed, water added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.45 mg 2%
2534 Corn, sweet, yellow, on or off the cob, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.45 mg 2%
2535 Drumstick (horseradish-tree), pods, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.45 mg 2%
2536 Pie, apple, commercial, 2 crust Baked Products 0.45 mg 2%
2537 Vinegar, red wine Spices and Herbs 0.45 mg 2%
2538 Drumstick (horseradish-tree), pods, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.45 mg 2%
2539 Soup, wonton (won ton), canned, ready-to-serve Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.45 mg 2%
2540 Squash, winter, all varieties, baked, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2%
2541 Plant-based beverage, soy, enriched, with Omega-3 fatty acids added Beverages 0.44 mg 2%
2542 Sweet potato, french-fried, cross cut, frozen, unprepared Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2%
2543 Soup, tomato, canned, condensed, reduced sodium, water added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.44 mg 2%
2544 Soup, tomato, canned, condensed, reduced sodium, 2% M.F. milk added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.44 mg 2%
2545 Cheese, edam Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2%
2546 Cheese, ricotta, with partly skimmed milk Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2%
2547 Cheese, mozzarella, (52% water, 22.5% M.F.) Dairy and Egg Products 0.44 mg 2%
2548 Mushroom, shiitake, cooked Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2%
2549 Squash, summer, crookneck, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2%
2550 Squash, winter, all varieties, baked Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.44 mg 2%

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