23 High Zinc Foods for Vegans and Vegetarians
Zinc is an essential nutrient required by the body for creating over 300 enzymes, and it is the most abundant metal in the body after iron.
Health benefits of zinc includes enhanced immune function, reductions of the common cold, and faster wound healing. Beyond this, zinc is vital for the proper functioning of the human body in general. Zinc deficiency can lead to hair loss, impotence, diarrhea, delayed wound healing, abnormal taste, and mental fatigue.
Vegans and vegetarians need to be especially aware of zinc since zinc availability is lower in plant foods than animal foods. Further, the amount of zinc found in vegetables and other plant foods can vary greatly depending on how much zinc is in the soil where they were grown.
Do phytates harm zinc absorption?
While phytates, which are present in whole-grain breads, cereals, legumes, and other foods do somewhat inhibit absorption of zinc, these foods are still a good source of zinc. Vegans and vegetarians should be aware of this and aim to consume 200% of the DV to compensate for the bioavailability of zinc.
Vegan and vegetarian sources of zinc include wheat germ, fortified cereals, beans and legumes, seeds, nuts, oatmeal, tofu, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, and zucchini. The daily value for zinc is 15mg per day. Below are 23 vegan and vegetarians foods high in zinc, for more, see the extended list of less common foods high in zinc.
1. Toasted Wheat Germ - 18.9mg (125% DV) per cup (113g)
4.7mg (32% DV) in 1 oz (28g)
16.7mg (111% DV) in 100 grams
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2. Fortified Cereals - 15mg (100% DV) in 3/4 cup (29g)
51.7mg (345% DV) in 100 grams
Full list of 300 cereals high in zinc.
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3. Dry Roasted Soybeans - 4.5mg (30% DV) per cup (93g)
4.8mg (32% DV) in 100 grams
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4. Hemp Seeds - 3mg (20% DV) in 3 tbsp (30g)
9.9mg (66% DV) in 100 grams
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5. Pumpkin and Squash Seeds - 2.9mg (20% DV) in 1 oz (85 seeds) (28g)
6.6mg (44% DV) per cup (64g)
10.3mg (69% DV) in 100 grams
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6. Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans, Bengal Gram) - 2.5mg (16% DV) per cup (164g)
1.5mg (10% DV) in 100 grams
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7. Oatmeal - 2.3mg (16% DV) per cup (234g)
1mg (7% DV) in 100 grams
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8. Tofu (Hard) - 2.1mg (13% DV) in 1/4 block (122g)
1.7mg (11% DV) in 100 grams
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9. Lima Beans - 1.9mg (13% DV) per cup (188g)
1mg (7% DV) in 100 grams
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10. Kidney Beans - 1.9mg (12% DV) per cup (177g)
1.1mg (7% DV) in 100 grams
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11. Pine Nuts - 1.8mg (12% DV) in 1 oz (167 kernels) (28g)
8.8mg (58% DV) per cup (135g)
6.5mg (43% DV) in 100 grams
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12. Cashew Nuts - 1.6mg (11% DV) in 1 oz (28g)
7.7mg (51% DV) per cup (137g)
5.6mg (37% DV) in 100 grams
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13. Spinach - 1.4mg (9% DV) per cup (180g)
0.8mg (5% DV) in 100 grams
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14. White Button Mushrooms - 1.4mg (9% DV) per cup pieces (156g)
0.1mg (1% DV) in 1 mushroom (12g)
0.9mg (6% DV) in 100 grams
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15. Pecans - 1.4mg (10% DV) in 1 oz (28g)
5.1mg (34% DV) in 100 grams
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16. Chia Seeds - 1.3mg (9% DV) in 1 oz (28g)
4.6mg (31% DV) in 100 grams
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17. Asparagus - 1.1mg (7% DV) per cup (180g)
0.4mg (2% DV) in 4 spears (1/2" base) (60g)
0.6mg (4% DV) in 100 grams
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18. Shiitake Mushrooms - 1mg (7% DV) per cup sliced (97g)
0.2mg (1% DV) in 1 piece whole (19g)
1mg (7% DV) in 100 grams
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19. Almonds - 0.9mg (6% DV) in 1 oz (22 whole kernels) (28g)
4.6mg (30% DV) per cup whole kernels (138g)
3.3mg (22% DV) in 100 grams
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20. Mushrooms (Brown, Crimini) - 0.8mg (5% DV) per cup sliced (72g)
0.2mg (1% DV) in 1 piece whole (20g)
1.1mg (7% DV) in 100 grams
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21. Peanuts - 0.8mg (5% DV) in 1 oz (28g)
4.1mg (28% DV) per cup (146g)
2.8mg (19% DV) in 100 grams
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22. Broccoli - 0.8mg (5% DV) per cup (156g)
0.9mg (5% DV) in 1 stalk, medium (7-1/2" - 8" long) (180g)
0.5mg (3% DV) in 100 grams
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23. Zucchini - 0.5mg (4% DV) per cup, sliced (180g)
0.3mg (2% DV) in 100 grams
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