Did you know that women need more iron than men? In fact, men are more likely to develop iron toxicity, which is the accumulation of excessive iron in the body than the women. Women lose more iron when they lose blood every month, that’s why it’s important for them to consume food that contain iron
Everyone knows that you can consume iron from red meat, but there are a lot more foods that contain this important mineral. Here are some foods high in iron:
Important! Consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.
Foods High in Iron – Top Iron Rich Foods
Foods high in iron – Meat
You’ve probably already heard that meat and some innards are foods high in iron. Usually red meat contains more iron that white meat. Also liver is another animal product that contains a high amount of iron.
Iron rich foods – Vegetables
A good source of iron are dark green leafy vegetables, like kale, spinach and broccoli. If you don’t like to eat raw vegetables, try to blend them into smoothies with fruits or steam them for a short time and dress them with a little extra virgin olive oil, garlic and sea salt. It’ll taste amazing.
Foods high in iron – Beans and legumes
Beans and all legumes are an excellent source of iron. The more darker green they are, the more iron they contain. Try them fresh, cooked with some garlic and onions or you can cook something with frozen or canned beans and legumes, if you don’t have time to cook them from scratch. Chili made with lean ground beef and beans is a real protein and iron ‘bomb’!
Iron rich foods – Broccoli
Broccoli is a dark green vegetable that’s a great source of iron and vitamin C. What does this mean? Well, if you eat broccoli (raw or cooked), it will load your body with useful minerals and vitamins, which are great for your overall health.
Foods high in iron – Cereals
These days, most cereals have iron and other nutrients added to them. Besides being a great source of carbohydrates, whole grain cereals contain iron and they’re easily digested.
Iron rich foods – Spices
Did you know that some spices can also contain iron? Dried thyme, curry powder, cinnamon, rosemary, paprika are just some of the many spices that are high in iron.
Vitamin C and iron
If you still don’t know all the facts about iron, here’s a good one: Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron in your body. The next time you eat iron rich foods like lean beef, green vegetables etc, you can also eat one juicy orange or grapefruit.
Iron supplements
Iron supplements in the form of pills can be difficult for your stomach to digest and may cause digestive problems. But if you’re anemic, you should take iron supplements. Of course, talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements especially if you have other health problems.
Be healthy!
Iron is important for your overall health. If you have iron deficiency, your blood won’t absorb sufficient oxygen for your organs to work properly and you’ll feel tired.