Stanford University School of Medicine blog
If you eat a vegan or vegetarian diet, or if you're just aiming to keep your iron levels up, you probably know some of the many vegetables, fruits and grains that are good sources of iron. But did you know that not all iron is the same, and that some foods actually make it harder for your body to absorb iron? Elastase
If this is news to you, the folks at Stanford Blood Center have a how-to checklist that will help your body get the most iron out of your diet so you can stay healthy and have enough iron in reserve to donate blood to someone in need.
As the Stanford Blood Center blog explains, there are two types of iron: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is found in animal products and is generally easier for the body to absorb. Non-heme iron in found in vegan foods and is not as easily absorbed.
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to make hemoglobin -- the part of red blood cells that bind and carry oxygen in your blood. As the blog explains