Iron Content of Prunes
A standard serving of about five prunes (around 40 grams) gives you roughly 1 milligram of iron. That might not sound like a lot, but for a plant-based snack, it’s actually pretty impressive.
To put that in perspective, a cup of raw spinach—the poster child for leafy greens—has about the same amount. And prunes are way easier to munch on the go, right? No chopping, no washing, no sad wilting.
Comparing prunes to the iron champs
Let’s play a fun food comparison game. A typical serving of cooked lean beef has about 3 milligrams of iron—so prunes aren’t going to beat a steak. But consider this: you’d have to eat six cups of raw broccoli to get the same iron as a single serving of prunes.
Prunes also have non-heme iron, the plant-based kind that’s a bit trickier for your body to absorb. But here’s the cool part: they come with built-in helpers. Prunes naturally contain vitamin C, which boosts iron absorption. It’s like they’re designed to be self-sufficient.