Lamb heart contains 5.5 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 unit equals 191 grams.
- 3 oz equals 85 grams.
In the category of meat, we included whole food products in the Top 10 list. Processed 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:
Lamb, variety meats and by-products, heart, cooked, braised
Read more about iron in meat or visit our iron-rich foods list.
Meat in general is an excellent iron food, in particular red meat. Red meat gets its redness, in fact, from the high iron content. People who consume red meat do not typically struggle with iron deficiency. If you do eat red meat and have low levels of iron, speak with your doctor about your circumstances because you may have complicating factors, from your digestion to high levels of blood loss.
All meats have a further bonus of allowing your digestive system to metabolize extra iron from your grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits. Vegetarian-based iron is usually locked in iron blockers, making plant-based iron much more difficult to digest. A small portion of meat can help your body to absorb the iron and move it into your red blood cells where your body needs it. Read more about the role of meat in iron digestion here.