Foods To Avoid While Trying To Absorb Iron

Meat and vegetables contain lots of natural iron.

Image Credit: istetiana/iStock/GettyImages Iron is vital for the health of your body, and every cell depends on it. You need iron in order for oxygen to be carried from your lungs to the rest of your body. If your physician has advised you to increase your intake of iron-rich foods and possibly add a daily iron supplement to your regimen, take into consideration that certain things you consume in your diet may limit the absorption of iron in your body.

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Heme vs. Nonheme Iron

First, it’s important to know that iron is present in two dietary forms: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is found in animal products that contain hemoglobin, such as fish, red meats and poultry. Heme is two to three times better absorbed when compared to nonheme iron, which is found in plant sources.

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  The absorption of nonheme iron is most affected by other dietary elements. With that in mind, here are some foods that could interfere with your body's ability to absorb iron.

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 Read more: 10 Weird Signs You're Not Getting Enough Nutrients

Dairy Products and Calcium

Products containing calcium, such as dairy products, antacids and calcium supplements, decrease or inhibit the absorption of nonheme iron either from the diet or from supplements. Calcium may also decrease the absorption of heme iron from animal products as well.

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 While iron and calcium are both essential for a healthy body, do not consume dairy products within two hours before or after taking an iron supplement or eating iron-rich foods if you are trying to increase your body's absorption of iron. Avoid taking calcium and iron supplements together at the same time during the day.

Coffee, Tea and Cocoa

Coffee, tea and cocoa naturally contain polyphenols, which are beneficial plant nutrients with antioxidant effects. While long-term consumption of foods containing polyphenols may offer protection against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases, they do interfere with the absorption of iron in the body.

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 Teas also contain tannins that impacts the absorption of nonheme iron. Drinking coffee, tea and coco inhibits the absorption of nonheme iron. Avoid drinking these beverages when consuming iron-rich meals or taking iron supplements.

Fiber-Rich Foods

Consuming foods high in fiber can decrease the absorption of iron from foods and supplements you consume. Raw vegetables, whole grains and bran products, all of which are high in fiber, should not be consumed at the same time you take iron supplements.

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 Iron is actually best absorbed on an empty stomach or with vitamin C. If iron supplements tend to cause nausea, cramps, constipation or diarrhea, eating a small amount of vitamin C rich foods, while avoiding high fiber foods, may help your to avoid these side effects.

Read more: 19 High-Fiber Foods — Some May Surprise You!

Whole Grains and Legumes

Phytates are naturally occurring substances found in grains and legumes. Referred to as anti-nutrients, phytates reduce the bioavailability of minerals, including nonheme iron.

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 In particular, vegetarians who only receive nonheme iron from their diet need to take this into consideration when eating to increase iron levels. To enhance the absorption of iron from dietary sources or supplements, combine foods high in vitamin C with iron-rich foods at the same meal.

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  references
  
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Control Iron Deficiency
    
      National Institutes of Health: Iron
    
      MedlinePlus: Taking Iron Supplements
    
      British Journal of Nutrition: Inhibition of Non-Haem Iron Absorption in Man by Polyphenolic-Containing Beverages
    
      Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity: Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease
    
      Journal of Medicinal Food: Phytate (Myo-Inositol Hexaphosphate) and Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
    
      Today's Dietitian: Nutritional Anomaly — Might Antinutrients Offer Some Benefits?
       




  references
  
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Control Iron Deficiency
    
      National Institutes of Health: Iron
    
      MedlinePlus: Taking Iron Supplements
    
      British Journal of Nutrition: Inhibition of Non-Haem Iron Absorption in Man by Polyphenolic-Containing Beverages
    
      Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity: Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease
    
      Journal of Medicinal Food: Phytate (Myo-Inositol Hexaphosphate) and Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
    
      Today's Dietitian: Nutritional Anomaly — Might Antinutrients Offer Some Benefits?
    




Meat and vegetables contain lots of natural iron.

Image Credit: istetiana/iStock/GettyImages

Image Credit: istetiana/iStock/GettyImages

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Control Iron Deficiency
    
      National Institutes of Health: Iron
    
      MedlinePlus: Taking Iron Supplements
    
      British Journal of Nutrition: Inhibition of Non-Haem Iron Absorption in Man by Polyphenolic-Containing Beverages
    
      Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity: Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease
    
      Journal of Medicinal Food: Phytate (Myo-Inositol Hexaphosphate) and Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
    
      Today's Dietitian: Nutritional Anomaly — Might Antinutrients Offer Some Benefits?