Calling All Vegans! Eat These Foods and Avoid Iron Deficiency

Photo by Mike Kenneally on Unsplash

If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you have to be careful about your iron levels. Since you are not eating meat, there is a chance that your iron levels could fall to low, which cause drowsiness, shortness of breath, and other unpleasant side effects. To make sure you dodge iron deficiency, incorporate these foods into your diet as much as possible.

Vitamin C

An important step in helping your body absorb more iron is making sure you are also consuming vitamin C. Examples of foods high in vitamin C are strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and more. Vitamin C helps you absorb iron from foods so make sure your diet includes these foods as well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnF52dOH-bk/?tagged=berries

Green Vegetables

In terms of iron, the darker the vegetable the better. Foods like kale, spinach, chard, and broccoli are some of the best sources. For example, one cup of raw spinach is about 1/10th of your daily need for iron, so add some to a green smoothie and you’re on you’re way.

Lentils and Beans

Not only are these foods a good source of protein they are also key to getting in the iron you need every day. Just 100 grams of lentils can give you 1/4th of your daily recommended iron.