Loin steak contains 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 oz equals 28 grams.
- 1 lb equals 453 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, short loin, top loin, steak, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8″ fat, sel
Read more about iron in meat or visit our iron-rich foods list.
Meat is a great source of iron, especially red meat. Red meat gets its color from the high iron content. People who eat red meat do not typically have iron deficiency. If you do consume red meat and have low iron levels, speak with your health care provider about your circumstances because you may have complicating factors, from your digestive health to unusual amounts of blood loss.
All types of meat have a second feature of helping your body to absorb extra iron from plant-based foods. Vegetarian sources of iron are generally locked in iron blockers, making that iron more difficult to metabolize. A small portion of meat can allow your body to absorb the iron and take it into your red blood cells where you need it. Learn more about meat’s role in your iron absorption here.