Iron Absorption

1. Meat and vitamin C help iron absorption, so try and eat some with every meal.
2. Tea, coffee, calcium, and antacids can reduce iron absorption.

Here’s a link to an excellent brochure on iron from the Perth District Health Unit.

This CDC site also has some good information.

Women need 18 mg iron per day, 33 mg if they are vegetarian because the iron contained in vegetables is not absorbed as well as the iron contained in meat. Men and women over 50 only need 8 mg per day.

There’s no way I’ve been getting 18 mg of iron daily or 33 mg on my no-meat days.

Women obviously need more iron during menstruation, but it’s not something that I’ve ever done anything about. I just realized this is yet another post relating to menstruation.