Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Coffee and common herbal teas impair iron absorption, which may help explain some of their benefits.

For background on iron regulation, see my video Risk Associated with Iron Supplements (nutritionfacts.org/video/risk-associated-with-iron-supplements/).

What about the different types of iron found in food? Check out The Safety of Heme vs. Non-Heme Iron (nutritionfacts.org/video/the-safety-of-heme-vs-non-heme-iron/). I also talked about this in my series on plant-based meats. The information on iron starts with What About the Heme in Impossible Burgers? (nutritionfacts.org/video/what-about-the-heme-in-impossible-burgers/).

For those surprised to hear about coffee’s benefits, see, for example:
• Coffee and Cancer (nutritionfacts.org/video/coffee-and-cancer/)
• Preventing Liver Cancer with Coffee? (nutritionfacts.org/video/preventing-liver-cancer-with-coffee/)
• Coffee and Artery Function (nutritionfacts.org/video/coffee-and-artery-function/)
• Coffee and Mortality (nutritionfacts.org/video/coffee-and-mortality/)

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Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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