1. Popeye Had the Right Idea
Dark green leafy vegetables are probably the best foods that you can put in your body, as they not only make the list of iron-rich vegetables, they are low in calories and packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. So do like Popeye and eat more iron with green, leafy feasts of spinach, broccoli, cabbage, watercress and kale.
2. The Power of Protein
While bad news if you are vegetarian, iron-rich meats are plentiful and a snap to add to your diet. However, be aware that an increase iron intake in meals through meat alone is a bad idea, as it also greatly increases your intake of cholesterol. In moderation, you can add fish, beef, lamb and even egg yolks to your diet in order to eat more iron.
3. Snack Sweetly
Some of your favorite snacks are also a great way to eat your iron. Iron-rich fruits, particularly dried fruits, include dates, figs, raisins, prunes, apricots and peaches. However, it is important to remember that you should not rely on dried fruit as your sole means of taking in more iron. While dried fruit is full of vitamins and minerals, it is also full of sugar and calories, so keep your sweet snacks light.
4. What's Vitamin C Got to Do With It?
Vitamin C helps your body to absorb the iron in your foods, increasing your supply without actually increasing intake. You can take up to 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily, or better yet, add vitamin C rich foods to each meal to ensure iron absorption. You can simply add a glass of fresh fruit juice to your meals, flavor foods with citrus juice or fruits, add mango or raspberries to salads or eat more broccoli, beans, tomatoes and squash.
5. Dairy Do's and Don'ts
Dairy has little effect on dietary sources of fiber, but if you are taking iron in supplement form, milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products will interfere with the absorption of your supplement. Like tea, dairy should be enjoyed an hour before or an hour after taking your iron supplements.
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