Hill brought up this surprising tidbit during an episode of the mindbodygreen podcast—and we were just as shocked as you might be. Allow us to break it down. “If you’re on a plant-based diet and you’re only eating non-heme sources of iron, like beans,” Wachob says, “you’ve got to think about combos to improve iron absorption.” And while there are plenty of food combinations that can enhance iron absorption (vitamin C-rich foods, for example), Hill says it’s equally important to pay attention to those that might hinder it. Now, this doesn’t mean you should quit coffee and tea altogether—but if you plan on eating an iron-packed breakfast (tofu scramble, anyone?), save your morning cuppa for later.
