Grass fed beef (strip steaks) contain 1.8 milligrams of iron per 100 grams. Grams is a measure of weight. To put 100 grams in perspective, consider alternative measures for this food:
- 1 steak equals 214 grams.
In the category of beef, we included whole food products in the Top 10 list. Foods may be fortified with iron but are not included in this Top 10 list.The food tested for the particular graph below can be described more specifically as:
Beef, grass-fed, strip steaks, lean only, raw
Read more about iron in meat or visit our iron-rich foods list.
Meat is a very good high iron food, in particular red meat. Red meat gets its redness from the large quantity of iron. People who consume red meat do not generally have an iron deficiency. If you do eat red meat and have low iron, consult with your doctor about your health status because you may have aggravating factors, from your digestive system to unusual levels of blood loss.
Meats in general have a second benefit of helping your digestive tract to take in more iron from your grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits. Vegetarian-based iron is usually bound in iron blockers, making it tougher to assimilate. A modest portion of meat can allow your body to absorb that iron and take it into your red blood cells where you need it. Read more about the role of meat in your iron digestion in this academic study.