Iron is an important mineral, which is required by the body to function properly, it plays a critical role in transporting oxygen around the body. Deficiency of this mineral is called anemia, when the body’s red blood cell count dips too low, it restricts the flow of oxygen, and our muscles and tissues crave in order to perform to the best of their ability, So It is important that you consume enough iron-rich foods, especially if you’re at risk or have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia,” You can do this by increasing your consumption of iron in your diet, we have made a list of some of the foods which will help in increasing your iron absorption levels
Leafy greens
Leafy greens are a great choice, as they are full of health benefits and contain very few calories, leafy greens like spinach are rich in vitamin C, which is important since vitamin C significantly boosts iron absorption, leafy greens are also rich in antioxidants that may reduce your risk of cancer, decrease inflammation and protect your eyes from disease.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are some of the most nutritious foods that you can eat, they contain healthy fats, protein, and are low on calories, and provide you good energy. Pumpkin seeds and pistachios are great, iron-rich options to snack on. Just a cup of pistachios will provide 6.1% of your daily value.
Eggs
Eggs are also known as superfoods, they are full of nutrients, and they are loaded with high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, and good fats. Apart from that, eggs are rich in iron, they are some of the best foods that you can eat if you have anemia. Pairing eggs up with spinach will help you create an iron-rich breakfast and help you in increasing your iron levels.
Legumes
According to research, legumes are great for anemia, as just a half-cup contains around 20% of iron what your body needs for the day. On top of that, they’re also a great source of fiber. Lentils are a great choice of legumes, on top of providing iron to the body, One cup of cooked lentils contains 18 grams of protein and covers around 50% of your recommended daily fiber intake.
Dark Chocolate
Yes you heard that right, Dark chocolate is great if you are looking to increase your iron intake, just one ounce (28-gram) of dark chocolate contains 3.3 mg of iron, which is 19% of the RDI studies have also shown that chocolate has beneficial effects on cholesterol and may reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
