Iron-Rich Foods
Heme iron is found in meat, fish and poultry. It is the form of iron that is most readily absorbed by your body. You absorb up to 30 percent of the heme iron that you consume. Eating meat generally boosts your iron levels far more than eating non-heme iron.
1 ounce of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, roasted almonds, roasted cashews, or sunflower seeds. One-half cup of dried seedless raisins, peaches, or prunes. One medium stalk of broccoli. One cup of raw spinach.
There is 0.3 mg of iron in one-third of a medium avocado. That's 2% of the daily value (DV) of iron. Nutrient-rich avocados contain nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Learn more about the benefits of avocado here.
Berries – Berries are not a strong carrier of iron but they act as an active iron absorber. Strawberries, blueberries, cranberries or blackberries are all good sources of vitamin C. Consumption of any type of berries increases the absorption rate of non-heme iron. 100 grams of berries contain 0.3mg Iron.
eating more iron-rich foods, such as lean meats, nuts, beans, lentils, dark leafy vegetables, and fortified breakfast cereals. consuming a variety of heme and non-heme iron sources. including more vitamin C rich foods in meals, such as citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli.
Peanut butter provides a moderate amount of iron. It can be a significant source of iron for people who follow a vegetarian diet or who eat modest amounts of meat. However, if plant foods are your only source of iron, you will need to consume almost twice as much food compared to people who eat meat.
Strawberries are the golden tier of iron-rich fruits, as not only do they contain iron but also Vitamin C which helps with the absorption of iron. They're rich in antioxidants, as well as containing good amounts of folate (Vitamin B9) and potassium which is also fantastic for natural energy.
Soy proteins can reduce absorption from plant sources. Tea, coffee and wine contain tannins that reduce iron absorption by binding to the iron and carrying it out of the body. Phytates and fibres found in wholegrains such as bran can reduce the absorption of iron and other minerals.
Ascorbic acid (AA), with its reducing and chelating properties, is the most efficient enhancer of non-heme iron absorption when its stability in the food vehicle is ensured.
Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable that is rich in fiber, vitamins C, vitamin K and iron. A one-cup serving of cooked broccoli has about one mg of iron, which is six percent of the required daily intake.
That's about five eggs every week, and for good reason too! Eggs have 1.89 mg of iron, which increases energy and boosts your immune system.
Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products have many health benefits, especially when it comes to bone and heart health. But it's also true that dairy sometimes inhibits iron absorption and could put you at risk for iron deficiency anemia.
The geometric mean (range ± 1 SD) of basal iron absorption was 30.2% (13.8- 66.0). The absorption of iron plus blueberries, blueberries and breakfast, and breakfast were 6.8% (21.1-21.7), 7.5% (2.3-24.0), and 5.7% (1.5-22.4) respectively (ANOVA, p<0001).
Canned Tomatoes
Raw tomatoes themselves don't contain a ton of iron, but canned stewed tomatoes pack in 2 mg of iron or 11% of the daily value in just 1/2 cup serving. Even tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes contain considerable amounts of iron as well.
Carrots are high in iron, particularly non-heme iron, as well as a good source of vitamin C. In addition they have Vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Of all the popular nut varieties, pistachios have the most iron, containing 14mg per 100g – nearly 4 times the amount of almonds, brazils or cashews. They are also a great source of protein, vitamin E, calcium and magnesium, making pistachios the ideal healthy snack.