Erin Stokes, Naturopathic Doctor, MegaFood Medical Director | March 2019

Did you know that 1 in 10 women in the United States is at risk for low iron?¹ 

In fact, iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Iron has a lot of important jobs to do in the body, such as supporting cellular energy production, healthy brain function and the ability to maintain a healthy body temperature. This is exactly why low energy, trouble concentrating, and struggling to stay warm are warning signs that you may have less-than-optimal iron levels!

If you’re looking to up your iron levels through yummy foods, here is a quick list for reference. You should also know that food sources of iron come in two main forms:

Heme iron is found in animal-based food sources and you can try:

1. Oysters
2. Beef & beef liver
3. Turkey
4. Tuna
5. Eggs
6. Shrimp

Non-heme iron is found in vegetarian food sources like:

1. Beans
2. Lentils
3. Tofu
4. Cashews
5. Leafy greens such as spinach and kale
6. Iron-Fortified breakfast cereals

Heme iron is generally better absorbed than non-heme iron, so it’s especially important to be conscientious about incorporating iron-rich food choices if you’re on a vegetarian diet.

*Pro-tip: Boost your iron absorption by consuming Vitamin C in tandem with your iron source. C-containing food options include citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, kale and strawberries. You can also take a Complex C. For those who choose to take an iron supplement, note that Blood Builder® conveniently contains 15mg of Vitamin C by design!

Still questing for more ways to up your energy? Continue your journey by visiting our Energy page for more nutrition, recipes and supplement facts.

¹https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtmL/00051880.htm