Do Avocados Have Lots of Iron in Them?

Iron Content

Half of a California avocado contains about 114 calories and 0.42 milligrams of iron, an amount equivalent to 2 percent of the daily value for iron. Because pureed avocado is more concentrated by volume than the whole fruit, 1 cup of pureed California avocado provides 384 calories and 8 percent of the daily value for iron.

Half of a Florida avocado contains approximately 183 calories and just 0.26 milligrams of iron, or 1 percent of the nutrient’s daily value, while a 1-cup serving of pureed Florida avocado supplies 276 calories and 2 percent of the daily value for iron, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Daily Value

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets the daily value for iron at 18 milligrams. A nutrient’s daily value is used to determine if a single serving of a food is a good source of that nutrient. To qualify as high in iron, a food must provide 20 percent or more of the daily value for iron in a single serving. To qualify as a good source of iron, it must supply 10 percent to 19 percent of the nutrient’s daily value per serving. Foods containing 5 percent or less of the daily value of iron are considered low in iron. By daily value standards, neither Florida nor California avocados are good sources of iron.

Recommended Intake

Individual iron needs vary, however, and are generally based on age, gender and pregnancy. The recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, for iron for women past the age of 50 and men of all ages is 8 milligrams per day. Through the age of 50, women should get 18 milligrams of iron each day, while pregnant women need 27 milligrams a day. Although avocados remain an insignificant source of iron by RDA standards, the amount they contribute is slightly more significant for those with lower iron requirements. The amount of iron in half a California avocado, for example, is equivalent to 5 percent of the RDA for iron for men and postmenopausal women.

Considerations

Avocados are an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium and vitamins E and C. Their vitamin C content promotes the absorption of nonheme iron, which is the type found in egg yolks and plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. Accordingly, serving avocado with foods containing nonheme iron helps your body absorb more iron than it would otherwise. Florida avocados are especially high in vitamin C -- half a fruit supplies 44 percent of the nutrient’s daily value. California avocados are a good source of vitamin C, providing 10 percent of the daily value per half fruit. Boost your iron intake by topping a whole-egg omelet or a bowl of three-bean chili with fresh avocado slices.