Many people worry that cutting meat from their diets leaves them at risk of becoming iron deficient. The truth is, there are plenty of plant-based foods that are rich in iron. Make sure you're consuming plenty of these vegan sources of iron to ensure your body is getting everything it needs from your vegan diet.
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What is iron and why do our bodies need it?
Iron is a mineral that regularly comes into the spotlight in vegan nutrition. But what is iron? And should vegans be concerned about getting enough of it?
Iron is found all around us, in our environment, our food and our bodies. We require iron to make haemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen around our body via red blood cells.
Iron also supports the function of our immune system, growth and development and even our learning and behaviour1.
Due to its vital role in human health, it is important that we get a regular supply through the food we eat.
Signs of iron deficiency in vegans – can veganism cause anaemia?
For example, if we don’t get enough iron, our body simply cannot make enough haemoglobin, limiting our ability to deliver oxygen to our muscles.
Early signs of iron deficiency include tiredness, low energy, and pale skin. Furthermore, severe iron deficiency, or ‘iron deficiency anaemia’ can result in brittle nails, thinning hair, itchy skin, heart palpitations and mouth ulcers2.
In the UK, we recommended a daily dietary intake of 8.7mg of iron3. Menstruating women are more at risk of iron deficiency due to regular blood loss during their monthly cycle.
Women aged between 19 and 50 are therefore recommended to increase their intake to 14.8mg per day3.
In fact, very low intakes of iron have been found in 54% of girls and 27% of women, regardless of the diet they consumed4.
'Early signs of iron deficiency include tiredness, low energy, and pale skin'
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Can veganism cause iron deficiency?
Due to our historical and cultural emphasis on the iron content of meat, there is a widely held belief that a vegan diet is deficient in iron.
However, a large study of over 40,000 women found that vegans did not have lower intakes of iron than meat-eaters5.
In fact, you may be surprised to hear that studies have shown vegan populations to have a higher intake of iron than other dietary patterns5.
So, if vegans are getting lots of dietary iron, why should we worry?
Bioavailability of plant foods
The concern stems from the absorbability (or ‘bioavailability’) of iron from plant foods. Iron comes in two forms; haem iron and non-haem iron.
Haem iron comes from animal foods and is highly absorbable. Non-haem iron comes from plants and is less well-absorbed.
This is because plant foods contain other substances, such as phytates, that bind with minerals like iron, reducing their bioavailability1.
Phytates are found in many healthy plant foods including wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
These foods are jam-packed with beneficial substances such as fibre, phytonutrients and antioxidants so we should not be trying to avoid them.
Moreover, the reduced bioavailability of plant-derived iron may be why long-term vegans have been found to have lower iron stores7.
Despite this, vegans are at no higher risk of developing iron-deficiency anaemia than the general population6.
In fact, consuming plant-derived iron actually allows our body to have more control over absorption. If our iron stores are low, the body adapts to absorb more from plant foods, if we have sufficient amounts, absorption will decrease1.
In contrast to plant-based iron, iron from meat is readily absorbed, whatever our iron status. This can be a bad thing as the human body has no efficient way to rid itself of excess iron.
Additionally, iron is a pro-oxidant and high levels have been identified as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer8.
So, meeting your iron requirements using a range of delicious vegan sources of iron may even be the wisest decision after all!
Wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds contain phytates which bind with minerals like iron and therefore reduce their bioavailability
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How to maximise iron absorption
Many plant foods contain good amounts of iron, but there are ways of preparing foods that can increase your body’s ability to absorb it.
For instance, pairing plant-based iron with a source of vitamin C can increase absorption up to 6 fold1. Conveniently, plant-based diets are naturally rich in vitamin C.
In addition, don’t drink tea or coffee with meals. This is because the tannins in these drinks act in a similar way to phytates, reducing iron absorption.
Another unusual but useful tip is to cook using cast iron pans. This is because small amounts of iron leach into your cooking and can boost your iron intake!
Drinking tea and coffee with your meals reduces iron absorption because the tannins acts like phytates
Top 10 vegan sources of iron
Fortified cereals
One sachet of fortified instant oats can provide your body with a whopping 7.8mg of iron. Choosing 30g of fortified bran flakes will provides 2.4mg of iron. You can also increase your absorption by adding 80g of strawberries.
Tempeh
Just 100g of this fermented soya product provides 3.6mg of iron. Pair it with some steamed broccoli to give your body an absorption boost.
Pumpkin seeds
Adding 2tbsp of pumpkin seeds to your meal will provide 3mg of iron. A 150ml glass of fruit juice will provide absorption-boosting vitamin C.
Baked beans
Beans on toast is a win for an iron-rich meal, with 200g of baked beans providing 2.8mg of iron. Finish your meal with a kiwi to get the most iron from your meal.
Wholewheat pasta
Cook up 75g of dry wholewheat pasta and your meal will contain 2.4mg of iron. Alternatively, mix in some kale for a vitamin C kick.
Quinoa
Cook 50g of quinoa and stir into a salad to get 3.9mg of iron. Squeeze some lemon or lime juice over the top for a zingy taste and an iron boost.
Wholemeal bread
Having a sandwich using 2 slices of wholemeal bread will provide 1.8mg of iron from the bread alone. Add in some sliced bell pepper for a crunch and a vitamin C hit.
Tahini
Just 1 Tbsp will provide 1.6mg of iron. Drizzle it over your salad or use it in your hummus. Alternatively, pairing it with lemon juice is the perfect match for taste and iron absorption.
Sunflower seeds
Sprinkle 2tbsp over your breakfast or lunch for 1mg of iron. Enjoy pineapple after your meal for the vitamin C benefits.
Cashew nuts
Finally, you can also snack on a handful of cashew nuts for 1.9mg of iron. Pair with blackcurrants for a dose of vitamin C.
Other sources of plant-based iron include red kidney beans, lentils, oats, chickpeas, peas, couscous, dried apricots, almonds, spring greens, oatcakes, hazelnuts, tofu, spinach, kale, dried prunes, walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, brown rice, peanuts, raisins, flaxseeds, dark chocolate (minimum 70%), as well as prunes and figs9.
Iron supplementation
In conclusion, most of us can get all the iron we need from a well-planned vegan diet. Consequently, supplementation is often unnecessary and can in fact be harmful.
If you have any concerns, or a condition that puts you at a higher risk of deficiency, get your iron levels checked by a healthcare professional who can advise on the best course of action for you.
Now you’re clued up about the best vegan sources of iron, find out what are the best sources of vitamin E for vegans.
Reference List
- Davis, B & Melina V. 2014. Becoming Vegan Comprehensive Edition. Book Publishing Company 2014. Canada.
- https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iron-rich-foods-iron-deficiency.html
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron/
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/699241/NDNS_results_years_7_and_8.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12740075/
- https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(20)30656-7/fulltext
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27880062/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5977983/
- Govindji A. 2020. Savvy Vegan. Pavilion Books Company. London.
