Foods That Can Help You Combat Iron Deficiency

Japanese tofu
Photo by Sherman Kwan on Unsplash

Iron deficiency is a common health problem that can cause weakness, fatigue, or even dizziness. The only way to overcome iron deficiency is to boost your iron levels by eating some of these iron-rich foods.

Animal Products

Animal products such as red meat, eggs, turkey or liver are by far the best sources of iron. This is because animal products contain heme iron that’s better absorbed by the body, unlike non-heme iron found in plants.

Chickpeas

Even if you don’t eat meat, there are still plenty of foods that are rich in iron and one of them are chickpeas. With 3.7 mg of iron per cup, chickpeas are one of the staples in a vegan and vegetarian diet.

Seeds

Seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, hemp, and flaxseeds are also packed with non-heme iron and they’re super easy to add to salads, smoothies, oatmeal, and many other dishes.

Tofu or Tempeh

Foods made from soybeans such as tofu or tempeh are high in iron and they’re also a great source of protein. A half-cup of tofu contains around 3.4 mg of iron, so it’s not surprising that this soy-based food is considered a great substitute for meat.