6 Iron Rich Foods Worth Adding To Your Diet

Maintaining a varied and balanced diet should be a top priority if you wish to obtain proper nutrients. After all, it is vitamins and minerals that help your body to maintain its normal function! 

Within this guide, we will be honing in on one particular mineral that your body needs for various reasons. That’s right - we’re here to discuss iron!

The Importance Of Having Iron In Your Diet

Before we take you through some foods that are rich in iron, let’s quickly touch on why your body needs it in the first place. You might be surprised to learn that there’s more than one role for iron to carry out in your body.

Iron is most famously known for contributing to the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This makes it an essential mineral to ensure that oxygen transport is at optimal levels throughout your body. 

But - the above isn’t all that iron is needed for. It has been found to help you fight against tiredness and is necessary for the proper metabolism of drugs. Studies have also shown that iron affects the heart, liver, and muscles (EFSA, 2010).

6 Iron-Rich Foods

Now that you know why your body needs iron let’s look at the easiest way to obtain it. If you feel as though your diet can’t support your iron intake, however, you might benefit from adding daily iron tablets to your routine.

1. Quinoa

Quinoa is a superfood that, luckily, contains high amounts of iron. This is excellent news for those following any diet, as quinoa is both delicious and vegan friendly. You can incorporate it into a whole variety of dishes to add a nutritious addition. 

2. Chicken Breast 

For meat-eaters, chicken breast is seen as a great source of protein. It is lean meat that offers numerous health benefits. If you need more of a reason to eat chicken breasts, you’ll be pleased to know that they are rich in iron, too. One tasty and nutritious way to enjoy them is by making a macro friendly chicken salad, which offers a balanced mix of protein, healthy fats, and flavor

3. Fortified Cereal

As haem iron (the type of iron that is most easily absorbed by your body) is found in most meat products, vegetarians and vegans sometimes struggle to get enough of it into their diets. Luckily, this is where fortified foods can help. There are plenty of fortified foods out there that contain iron, with breakfast cereals being one of the most common.

4. Spinach

Growing up, you were probably told always to eat your greens. Although it might have felt like a punishment at the time, there was a lot of method to the madness. Spinach, in particular, is incredibly high in iron. It has a lot of nutritional value and makes a great addition to any meal.

5. Legumes

Legumes like lentils and chickpeas are another great addition to your diet. The majority of legumes are high in iron, once again providing an excellent chance for vegetarians and vegans to get the nutrients they need.

6. Dried Fruit

What a lot of people don’t realize is that dried fruit can also be high in iron. This is particularly the case when it comes to apricots. Whether eating dried fruit as a snack or adding it to your breakfast or dessert, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate it into your diet!

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