Hello...I am looking this up...the book says only 2% of the iron in spinach
is bioavailable. Plants and legumes contain non-heme iron as opposed to
meat which is heme iron. " Plant foods, such as carrots, potatoes, beets,
pumpkin, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips and sauerkraut,
are good sources of iron although it's in a less readily absorbed form
called nonheme iron. Absorption of the nonheme iron in legumes and iron-
fortified cereals can be enhanced by combining them with vitamin C."
This quote is from Prevention Magazine. They have a list of the 23 items
with the highest amount of iron; except for tofu, quinoa, pumpkin seeds,
soybeans and Cream of Wheat Cereal the rest is all meats and seafoods.
As to amounts of iron, 1/2 cup collards-no % iron given, 1/2 cup spinach--
32% of the RDA, 1/2 c beet greens 14% of the RDA, 1/2 cup dandelion greens--
9% of the RDA, mustard greens-not appreciable, 1/c turnip greens--6 % RDA.
1/2 cup kale--13% of the RDA. I noticed Jerusalem artichokes have 26%
of the RDA for 1/2 cup.
Bye...Elizabeth
>My understanding is that the body absorbs very little iron from spinach
>and that , if you want to get iron into your system, you are much better
>off to eat either collards, kale, turnip greens, etc. Anyone know if I
>am right or wrong?