You know you need your daily dose of iron, especially if you're a woman, but why? And how can you get it without taking a supplement?
Iron plays a key role in transporting oxygen to tissues. You can find it in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods(known as heme or non-heme iron), but it's great to involve both types of iron food sources as part of a healthy diet! Iron can help with the formation of hemoglobin, strengthen your immune system, aid in a healthy metabolism, regulate your body temperature and so much more. A deficiency in this important mineral can lead to fatigue, weakness and other yucky health related issues so make sure you eat enough of these 6 foods packed with iron! (1)
- Clams (2) Iron in 3oz: 24mg (132% DV) Also recommended: oysters and mussels!
- Beef (2) Iron in 4oz: 26mg (146% DV)
- Pumpkin Seeds (2) Iron in 1 cup: 34mg (188% DV) Also recommended: sesame, sunflower and flax!
- Almonds (2) Iron in 1 cup: 7.8mg (43% DV) Also recommended: almonds, pine nuts and cashews!
- Spinach (2) Iron in 1 cup(cooked: 6mg (36% DV)
- Dark Chocolate (2) Iron in 100g: 17mg (97% DV)
SOURCES
- "Health Benefits of Iron | Organic Facts." Organic Facts. Organic Information Services Pvt Ltd, 8 July 2015. Web. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-iron.html.
- "Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron." HealthAliciousNess. Healthaliciousness.com, 2014. Web. http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/food-sources-of-iron.php.
