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 3001–3050 of 3,595 foods

# Food Category Per 100 g % DV
3001 Milk, fluid, chocolate, partly skimmed, 2% M.F. Dairy and Egg Products 0.24 mg 1%
3002 Egg, chicken, white, dried, powder, glucose reduced Dairy and Egg Products 0.24 mg 1%
3003 Cheese, gouda Dairy and Egg Products 0.24 mg 1%
3004 Milk, evaporated, partly skimmed, canned, undiluted, 2% M.F. Dairy and Egg Products 0.24 mg 1%
3005 Soup, tomato vegetable, dehydrated, water added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.24 mg 1%
3006 Apple, canned, sweetened, sliced, heated Fruits and fruit juices 0.24 mg 1%
3007 Passion fruit juice, purple, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.24 mg 1%
3008 Watermelon, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.24 mg 1%
3009 Bamboo shoots, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.24 mg 1%
3010 Belgium endive (chicory, witloof), raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.24 mg 1%
3011 Onion, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.24 mg 1%
3012 Onion, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.24 mg 1%
3013 Alcohol, dessert wine, sweet (18.8% alcohol by volume) Beverages 0.24 mg 1%
3014 Alcohol, dessert wine, dry (18.8% alcohol by volume) Beverages 0.24 mg 1%
3015 Sweets, confectioner's coating / chips, white chocolate Sweets 0.24 mg 1%
3016 Sweets, pie fillings, canned, cherry Sweets 0.24 mg 1%
3017 Grains, rice, white, long-grain, parboiled, cooked Cereals, Grains and Pasta 0.24 mg 1%
3018 Beverage mix, carob flavour, powder, with 2% M.F. milk Beverages 0.24 mg 1%
3019 Bamboo shoots, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.24 mg 1%
3020 Cheese, fontina Dairy and Egg Products 0.23 mg 1%
3021 Cheese, tilsit, with whole milk Dairy and Egg Products 0.23 mg 1%
3022 Egg, chicken, white, pan dried, flakes Dairy and Egg Products 0.23 mg 1%
3023 Jackfruit, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.23 mg 1%
3024 Lime juice, canned or bottled Fruits and fruit juices 0.23 mg 1%
3025 Apple, canned, sweetened, sliced, unheated Fruits and fruit juices 0.23 mg 1%
3026 Applesauce, canned, unsweetened Fruits and fruit juices 0.23 mg 1%
3027 Eggplant (aubergine, brinjal), raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.23 mg 1%
3028 Juice drink, citrus fruit, frozen concentrate, water added Beverages 0.23 mg 1%
3029 Cake, angel food, dry mix, prepared Baked Products 0.23 mg 1%
3030 Candies, marshmallow Sweets 0.23 mg 1%
3031 Radish, hawaiian style, pickled Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.23 mg 1%
3032 Egg, chicken, scrambled, frozen mixture Dairy and Egg Products 0.23 mg 1%
3033 Salad dressing, mayonnaise, no cholesterol Fats and Oils 0.23 mg 1%
3034 Yogourt, fruit flavoured, with added calcium and vitamin D (2-3.9% M.F.) Dairy and Egg Products 0.23 mg 1%
3035 Babyfood, vegetable and grain, jarred, creamed corn with rice Babyfoods 0.23 mg 1%
3036 Potato, mashed, prepared from flakes without milk, whole milk and margarine added Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.22 mg 1%
3037 Turnip, boiled, drained, with salt Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.22 mg 1%
3038 Corn, sweet, canned, drained solids, rinsed Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.22 mg 1%
3039 Soup, cream, celery, canned, condensed, reduced fat, 2% M.F. milk added Soups, Sauces and Gravies 0.22 mg 1%
3040 Plant-based beverage, cashew, enriched, sweetened Beverages 0.22 mg 1%
3041 Cheese, mozzarella, partially skim, (52% water, 16.5% M.F.) Dairy and Egg Products 0.22 mg 1%
3042 Sauce, cranberry, canned, sweetened Fruits and fruit juices 0.22 mg 1%
3043 Guava, strawberry, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.22 mg 1%
3044 Pear, canned halves, heavy syrup pack, solids and liquid Fruits and fruit juices 0.22 mg 1%
3045 Pear, canned halves, extra heavy syrup pack, solids and liquid Fruits and fruit juices 0.22 mg 1%
3046 Rhubarb, raw Fruits and fruit juices 0.22 mg 1%
3047 Chayote, fruit, boiled, drained Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.22 mg 1%
3048 Sweets, topping, marshmallow cream Sweets 0.22 mg 1%
3049 Fast foods, side dish, coleslaw Fast Foods 0.22 mg 1%
3050 Cucumber, peeled, raw Vegetables and Vegetable Products 0.22 mg 1%

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