Beef tongue contains 2.6 milligrams of iron per 100 grams. Grams is a measure of weight. To put 100 grams in perspective, consider alternative measures for this food:
- 3 oz equals 85 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, variety meats and by-products, tongue, cooked, simmered
Read more about iron in meat or visit our iron-rich foods list.
Meat in general is an outstanding source of iron, especially red meat. Red meat gets its redness, in fact, from the large amount of iron. People who enjoy red meat do not typically have iron deficiency. If you do eat red meat and have an iron deficiency, consult with your doctor about your health status because you may have complicating factors, from your digestion to high levels of blood loss.
Meats in general have another benefit of helping your body to assimilate extra iron from plant-based foods. Vegetarian sources of iron are normally bound in iron inhibitors, making it more difficult to absorb. Even minimal portions of meat can allow your body to unlock the iron and carry it into your blood where you can actually use it. Read more about meat as an iron enhancer in the Journal of Nutrition.