Corn and an Iron Deficiency

Iron in your diet is more than a recommendation, it is essential to keeping you healthy 1. Iron transports oxygen throughout the body and protects the health of your red blood cells. If your doctor has confirmed that you have an iron deficiency, it is important for you to identify how much iron you should consume each day and incorporate nutritional sources of iron into your diet. Corn does contain iron, but you should know its nutritional value to know how it fits into your diet.

Iron Intake

Iron intake varies by gender and age. Teenage boys between the ages of 14 and 18 should consume 11 mg per day, and teenage girls in this age range should consume 15 mg per day. Male adults between the ages of 19 and 50 should consume 8 mg of iron per day, and 19- to 50-year-old women should consume 18 mg per day. Men and women age 51 and older can reduce their iron intake to 8 mg per day.

Nutrition of Corn

Are Sunflower Seeds a Food High in Iron?

Learn More

Corn comes in several varieties. In terms of nutrition, 1 cup of raw corn contains 125 calories, 27 g of carbohydrates, 4 g of protein, 9 g of sugar and 2 g of fat.

Corn and Iron

One cup of yellow corn contains .75 mg of iron. This is a relatively low amount compared to other foods that contain iron. While you can enjoy corn as a part of your diet to address your iron intake, there is not enough iron in corn alone to treat a deficiency.

Addressing an Iron Deficiency

The Health Benefits of Grits

Learn More

If you have a true iron deficiency, take a multivitamin that contains iron. Check with your physician to ensure that you are taking a multivitamin that is appropriate for your needs. In addition, addressing an iron deficiency is often most effective by consuming nutritional sources of iron. Chicken liver, fortified hot or cold cereals, soybeans and beef have some of the highest concentrations of iron.