Iron-rich diet

Your body needs iron to make a protein called hemoglobin. This protein is found in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the cells in your body. If you don't get enough iron, your body makes fewer and smaller red blood cells. As a result, your body's cells may not get enough oxygen.

Most people can get the iron their bodies need by eating enough iron-rich foods. Your doctor may advise you to take an iron supplement along with eating an iron-rich diet.

The foods you eat contain nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Iron is a nutrient. Your body needs the right amount to stay healthy and work as it should. You can use the list below to help you make choices about which foods to eat.

Here are some foods that contain iron. They have 1 to 2 milligrams of iron per serving.

Fruits

• Figs (dried), 5 figs

Vegetables

• Asparagus (canned), 6 spears
• Collard, beet, Swiss chard, or turnip greens, 1 cup
• Dried peas, cooked, ½ cup
• Seaweed, spirulina (dried), ¼ cup
• Spinach, (cooked) ½ cup or (raw) 1 cup

Grains

• Cereals, fortified with iron, 1 cup
• Grits (instant, cooked), fortified with iron, ½ cup

Meats and other protein foods

• Beans (kidney, lima, navy, white), canned or cooked, ½ cup
• Beef or lamb, 3 oz
• Chicken giblets, 3 oz
• Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), ½ cup
• Liver of beef, lamb, or pork, 3 oz
• Oysters (cooked), 3 oz
• Sardines (canned), 3 oz
• Soybeans (boiled), ½ cup
• Tofu (firm), ½ cup

Work with your doctor to find out how much of this nutrient you need. Depending on your health, you may need more or less of it in your diet.