But fear not—getting enough iron can be easy when you know the right sources (and checking your levels can be as easy as getting a blood test). Here’s our comprehensive list of healthy foods high in iron. Iron supplements come in a few different forms, but it appears that ferrous gluconate may be the best, most absorbed type. It usually comes in liquid form (and this is the type of iron supplement I generally have my clients take), but this form contains less elemental iron, so sometimes people need to take more of this type. I usually have clients mix ferrous gluconate with orange juice, as citrus can help boost iron absorption. The other type of supplemental iron is called ferrous sulfate, which is generally found in tablets. Sometimes iron tablets can contribute to constipation, so I generally recommend people try “slow iron”—it’s considered ferrous sulfate but may be better tolerated. You’ll likely need more sources of plant-based iron due to absorption, but the good news is that there are plenty of sources to pick from, and if you do end up needing an iron supplement, there are also plenty of options as well.
