The short answer
No. One portion of beetroot (1 beet) gives about 0.8 mg of iron, 4% of the 18 mg a day women aged 19 to 50 need. It is non-heme iron, so only a small share gets in unless a vitamin C helper shares the plate.
- mg0.8In one portion: 1 beet
- %4Of the 18 mg a day women aged 19 to 50 need
- mg0.8Per 100 g, as eaten
Worth knowingLovely, but about 0.8 mg per 100 g. Not an iron food.
How it compares
Iron per portion, next to other foods on the vegetables shelf.
Questions
How much iron is in beetroot?
About 0.8 mg per 100 g, so 1 beet (100 g) gives about 0.8 mg. The number is from USDA FoodData Central: Beets, cooked, boiled, drained.
Is the iron in beetroot easy to absorb?
Less easily than iron from meat or fish. On its own only a small share gets in. A vitamin C helper on the same plate lifts it, and coffee, tea and dairy near the meal hold it back.
What should I eat with beetroot for iron?
A vitamin C helper on the same plate: lemon juice, red pepper, tomato, parsley or berries. A little meat or fish helps too, if you eat it.
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: Beets, cooked, boiled, drained
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron: fact sheet for health professionals
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 101.54: nutrient content claims for "good source" and "high"
Iron is from food tables, for the food as eaten, and real foods vary with the cut, the brand and the recipe. Your body takes in a share of it, and a larger share when your stores are low.
Educational, not medical advice. ferritin.ai does not diagnose or treat any condition. Talk to your doctor about your own results.