Iron

Now I may not have the same problem as a vegan mother when it comes to iron because I still choose to eat fish, but people still tend to worry over how much of it I'm getting. Before I continue, I'd like to say my iron levels are great, better than meat eating moms even.

That said, there are two key things to keep in mind when worrying about iron, iron, iron.

1. What are the iron rich foods?
2. What will help my body absorb the iron?

Have good iron levels or stores isn't just about how much of it your pumping into your body, it's also about what will help your body absorb it.

Iron Rich Foods:

• Beans and Lentils
• Soy products
• Spinach
• Quinoa

...are a few examples. A quick search will shower you with all the options you have to enhance your diet with more IRONNNNN.

You see, the problem isn't finding vegan sources of iron. The real problem is that iron from plant based sources isn't absorbed by the body as well as the iron found in meat. Which brings us to what we can do to help the body absorb it.

Iron's Best Friend:

Vitamin C

It's that simple. Coupling iron with vitamin C will allow your body to get the most of what you eat.

So, iron isn't this mystical, unobtainable mineral for vegans as people would like to think. Keep in mind, a lot of vegan products are fortified with iron, along with other vitamins and minerals that meat eaters think we're lacking in.