Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health and Fitness

What foods are high in iron? These staples will help you live a healthier life

Add these high-iron foods to your shopping list today

Christine VanDoren
By

What foods are high in iron?  We all know that iron is important for a healthy, balanced diet, but did you know you can find two different kinds of iron in food: heme and non-heme. Your body can absorb iron from heme (animal-based) food better than from non-heme (plant-based) food sources. Where can you find heme food sources? Read on to find out!

If you eat a plant-based diet, you’ll get a lot of non-heme types of iron. As a result, your body might need a bit of help to absorb it properly. Sometimes Vitamin C can aid with the absorption of plant-based kinds of iron. Regularly consume both plant and animal-based sources of iron to get the best of both for your body. 

Recommended Videos

What is iron?

Woman carrying vials of blood.

Iron is an essential mineral. Without it, your body won’t grow or develop. It makes up your hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from your lungs to every area of your body. Everyone needs iron as they age, starting in childhood. Boys and girls need about the same amount until adolescence. Depending on their ages, this can be between seven and 11 milligrams (mg) of iron every day. 

During the teen years, girls need a bit more iron than boys. Due to iron loss during their monthly menstruation cycle, teen girls should get at least 15 mg daily. Boys do fine with a bit less, around 11 mg each day. 

Average adult men of any age need around eight mg daily. Those with heavy workouts or who run long miles may need more. Women with a monthly period continue to lose approximately 70% of iron, so they should aim for at least 18 mg a day. Again, female runners and athletes need a bit more. After menopause, women do fine with around eight mg of iron daily. 

Adult transgender men and women who have medically transitioned should get daily iron doses of about eight mg.

As always, no matter who you are, discuss your iron and other dietary needs with your primary care physician or a registered dietician. They’ll be able to better assess your needs based on specific levels in your blood and personal habits. 

4 benefits of proper iron consumption

Man running on street by a body of water.
Unsplash

1. Improves brain function

Brains develop better with healthy iron levels in the body. Hemoglobin, fueled by iron, helps get oxygen to the brain, where 20% of it is used. This means a healthy brain is an oxygen-rich brain. Oxygen triggers cognitive activity and helps to form new pathways. These new neural actions prevent certain disorders and cognitive irregularities. 

2. Relieves anemia

If you’ve been diagnosed with anemia, this means your body has low iron reserves. This iron deficiency can be genetic or the result of heavy periods. No matter the cause, your blood doesn’t have enough oxygen. This can cause you to suffer from brittle nails, fatigue, and dizziness, among other symptoms.  

3. Boosts energy levels

Lots of men and women suffer from chronic fatigue. This can be the result of anemia or other medical issues that come about when a person’s healthy supply of iron is depleted. Getting iron into your body can help eliminate this heavy fatigue and return some energy to your system. 

4. Strengthens immune system

Iron is vital in a body’s ability to fight infection and disease. Red blood cells are often the first line of defense when your body is attacked. Therefore, they must come equipped with enough oxygen to aid and repair your damaged cells, organs, and tissues. Otherwise, your blood is weakened, and healing is less likely to happen. 

What drinks are high in iron?

Male athlete drinking protein shake while sitting in gym.

1. Prune juice

Made with dried plums, you’ll get around 1.18 mg of iron in each cup of prune juice. This will help increase your energy levels without spiking your blood sugar. Prune juice also helps prevent constipation, which is an unfortunate side effect of too much iron. In addition, it helps keep you regular and softens the stool in bowel movements. If the taste is not to your liking, mix it with a little bit of pineapple juice to improve the flavor. 

2. Shakes

Some people like to get iron-fortified whey protein or other powders to add to their shakes. A scoop of pea protein comes with a whopping 30% of the daily value for iron. You can add that to your shake in an unsweetened form, so you aren’t increasing daily calorie consumption. Other ingredients you can add to shakes include almond or oat milk. Use cashew butter to make them extra creamy. These ingredients also help your body absorb iron better than cow’s milk. 

3. Smoothies

This is often the easiest and quickest way to get iron from different sources into your system. You can even make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge or freezer for when you want them. The following ingredients make tasty smoothies with plenty of needed iron for your system:

  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Raspberries
  • Coconut
  • Cashews
  • Ground-up flaxseed or flaxseed meal
  • Sesame

Which fruits and vegetables are high in iron?

Bowl of raisins and other dried fruits.

1. Raisins

Toss raisins on top of oatmeal, pudding, or cereals. Eat celery with peanut butter and raisins for an iron-rich snack. Or eat them plain for a healthy treat!

2. Figs and dates

Add dates and figs to your cereal or oatmeal in the morning or salads the rest of the day. You can also add them to sandwiches, wraps, or favorite pasta dishes. Some people love to mix them with gorgonzola and walnuts for a mid-afternoon snack. 

Consider these side dishes if you want your meal to pack an iron-rich punch. Fresh varieties add taste and lots of iron goodness to each meal:

  • Broccoli
  • Kale, collard greens, and spinach
  • Green beans
  • Potatoes
  • Cabbage
  • Tomatoes (in paste or sauce form)
  • Brussels sprouts.

Is meat high in iron?

A serving of oysters

As a rule, meat comes with iron that’s easily absorbed by your body. The redder the meat, the more iron-rich it will be. Some great animal-based sources of iron include:

  • Lean beef
  • Liver
  • Oysters
  • Turkey
  • Chicken

Example of a high-iron meal

Two steaks cooking on a grill on an open fire.

Skillet Steak with Peas and Mushrooms

Ingredients 

  • 12 ounces boneless beef top sirloin steak
  • 2 teaspoons low-sodium seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 6 ounces broccolini, chopped
  • 2 cups peas, frozen or fresh
  • 1 teaspoon thyme, fresh
  • 3 cups mushrooms, fresh and sliced
  • 1 cup low-sodium broth
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  2. Cut the steak into about 1-inch thick strips and trim the fat. 
  3. Sprinkle it with seasoning, salt, and garlic.
  4. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. 
  5. Add the steak and broccolini. 
  6. Cook for four minutes, turning only the broccolini halfway through. 
  7. Place (frozen) peas around the steak and sprinkle with thyme. 
  8. Transfer to the oven and bake for eight minutes or until the steak is medium-rare.
  9. Move to a plate (leave excess sauce in the pan); cover and keep warm.
  10. Add mushrooms and fresh peas to the drippings in the pan. 
  11. Cook over medium-high heat for three to four minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  12. Mix broth, mustard, and cornstarch in a separate bowl before adding to the pan with the mushrooms. 
  13. Cook for a couple of minutes until it gets thicker. 
  14. Serve separately or cover the steak and veggies with the sauce to serve together. 

This delicious and simple meal will give you and your guests plenty of protein (26g), fiber (4g), and iron (3 mg). 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much iron should I get per day?

That depends on your age and gender, among other factors. Generally speaking, you need around 8.7 mg each day if you’re a man over the age of 18. If you’re a woman, you’ll need more than 14 mg a day until menopause, when the number goes down to 8.7 mg each day. 

What does iron do for the body?

Iron helps get oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. In addition, it’s a vital ingredient in hemoglobin, the protein that lives in your red blood cells. Without it, your brain, energy levels, and immunity suffer. 

How do I get more iron?

Add it to your diet. The following foods, regularly eaten, will provide you with needed iron daily. 

  • Red meat
  • Seafood
  • Pork
  • Legumes 
  • Poultry
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Raisins
  • Figs
  • Peas
  • Iron-fortified bread and cereals

Should I take iron supplements?

Talk to your healthcare provider or a nutritionist about iron supplements. Sometimes, they can come with side effects like constipation. To prevent this, take gentle iron supplements that slowly dissolve all day rather than all at once. You can also increase fiber in your diet or drink more water. This will help keep your bowel movements regular and softer.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christine VanDoren
Christine VanDoren
Contributor
Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her…
The 8 best lower ab exercises to help you achieve V-cut abs
These lower ab workouts will have you looking (and feeling) great
Body recomposition man with abs.

Very few people can deny the aesthetic of a six-pack paired with a V-cut of chiseled and toned abs. Unfortunately, this look can be very hard to achieve, even if you spend a decent amount of time working out and eating healthily. This is where an effective lower ab workout comes in!

The benefits of lower ab exercises go well beyond aesthetics and have the potential to give you the muscle tone and definition you're looking for (and, let's face it, a lot of this comes down to what you're eating and your overall body fat percentage). More importantly, lower ab exercises help build a strong core, which is critical for overall athletic performance, balance, posture, injury prevention, and functional strength. Below, we share some of the best lower ab exercises for men to help you get a strong, sculpted core.
Low Plank With Alternating Leg Lifts

Read more
These foods high in melatonin will help you sleep better
Get a better sleep naturally by eating these 9 melatonin foods
Hands holding wine grapes.

Getting a quality night's sleep becomes more and more of a challenge as we age. Some of us have tried blackout curtains, sleep masks, weighted blankets, or any number of supplements promising better rest. If you're looking for an all-natural solution, though, melatonin is the way to go. Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the pineal gland in the brain. Among several functions, melatonin plays a key role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythms, or sleep-wake cycles. Accordingly, the pineal gland produces more melatonin when the sun goes down, and levels dip at daybreak. Foods high in melatonin or even melatonin supplements are a popular way to increase the concentration of melatonin and possibly improve the quality and quantity of sleep.
Melatonin supplements are typically non-habit-forming and safe for adults and children in doses of around 0.5 to 5 milligrams. However, melatonin supplements may cause drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness, and they can interfere with certain medications.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to support your body’s own natural melatonin levels but you don’t want to rely on supplements, there are several sleep-aid foods that contain melatonin. Adding any of these foods high in melatonin to your dinner plate or bedtime snack routine may help regulate your sleep patterns over time and help you get more restful sleep. Though little nutritional data exists about the specific concentration of melatonin in different foods, the following foods are known to be particularly high in melatonin.

Read more
Want to build muscle? A doctor says you should eat these foods
If you're looking to bulk up those biceps, these are the foods you should be eating
Fish fillets, chicken meat, and red meat on top of distressed white cutting boards along with nuts, cheese, dairy, and eggs.

The world of nutrition and muscle growth can be a terribly confusing one. Between the madness of the latest trends in health, fad diets, the newest "must have" workout gear, and toxic weight-loss culture, it's easy to want to throw in the towel and reach for a box of Twinkies. But tucked in, hidden in all of this confusion, there are some things about fitness and muscle growth that are just always true. The biggest truth of them all is that abs really are made in the kitchen. You can work yourself into a frenzy with a fancy gym membership, but without proper nutrition, your body is just running on toxic fumes.

Muscle building requires a good balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Dr. Noel Abood, co-founder of Re:vitalize Weight Loss, shared with us his expert advice on the top foods one should be eating for ultimate muscle growth. So if you've been frustrated with the results of your workout routine, or are looking to bulge those biceps a bit more, here are some of the foods you'll want to add these items to your grocery list.

Read more