meat and iron

Did you know?
Sources of iron
How to increase your iron absorbtion
Who may need extra iron in their diet


How to increase your iron absorbtion

Include foods containing Vitamin C (eg oranges, tomatoes and fruit juices) with your meal

  • Fresh fruit juice with your cereal for breakfast will increase the iron absorption from the cereal.

  • Fresh grapefruit as a starter will increase the iron absorption from your meal.

Include meat and fish with your meal

  • If you put a slice of ham into a salad sandwich, the meat will not only add iron to the snack but will also help increase the absorption of iron from both the bread and salad.

Avoid drinking tea and coffee with your meal

  • By not having these drinks with your meals you will gain more benefit from the iron in your food.

Be aware that protein in meat and fish can help release iron from fibre foods

  • By eating chilli con carne with brown rice you will increase the iron absorption from both the kidney beans and the brown rice.