Vitamin C in Plant Based Foods
2,037 plant foods ranked by Vitamin C per 100 g. Search a food, pick a food group or keep whole foods only.
- 2,037 plant foods with vitamin C data
- Source: USDA FoodData Central
- Units: mg vitamin C per 100 g
- RDA: 75 mg/day (women) · 90 mg/day (men)
Everyday foods rich in Vitamin C
Whole foods with their own page, per 100 g; spices and dried herbs left out.
Good to know
Iron synergy tip
Vitamin C dramatically increases plant iron absorption (non-heme iron). Including a vitamin C-rich food at iron-rich meals (lemon juice on lentil soup, bell peppers with bean dishes) increases iron absorption by 2–6 times. This is the most practical nutrition synergy for plant based eaters. See the Iron Ranking Tool for plant based iron sources.
Preguntas
How much vitamin C do I need per day?
The RDA is 75 mg/day for women and 90 mg/day for men. One serving of bell peppers, kiwifruit, guava, or broccoli easily meets this. Many nutrition researchers suggest 200–500 mg/day optimises tissue saturation and maximises antioxidant protection. A whole-food plant based diet rich in vegetables and fruits typically provides well above the RDA.
Does vitamin C enhance iron absorption from plant foods?
Yes — vitamin C (ascorbic acid) converts non-heme iron from plant foods into the more readily absorbed ferrous form and also neutralises absorption inhibitors like phytate and polyphenols. Including a vitamin C-rich food at iron-rich plant meals can increase iron absorption by 2–6 times. A squeeze of lemon on lentil soup, bell peppers alongside bean dishes, or kiwifruit with an iron-rich grain bowl makes a meaningful practical difference.
Does cooking destroy vitamin C in plant foods?
Vitamin C is heat-sensitive and water-soluble, so cooking reduces it — by 15–25% with steaming or microwaving, and up to 50% with prolonged boiling. Boiling leaches vitamin C into cooking water, which is then often discarded. The solution: steam or microwave vegetables briefly, include some raw high-vitamin-C foods daily, and use vegetable cooking water in soups and sauces.
Related tools
Recipes with the most Vitamin C
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Bowl de yaca, frijoles negros y arroz, inspirado en Planticeria en Ciudad de Panamá 1 h 20 min · 784 kcal por porción Alimentos integralesSin aceiteSin glutenSin frutos secos+4 más -
Ucrania Ensalada de col con pimentón 10 min · 154 kcal por porción RápidoSin glutenSin frutos secosSin soja+3 más -
Ucraniana Borsch vegano crudo 2 h 30 min · 434 kcal por porción Alimentos integralesSin aceiteSin glutenSin frutos secos+4 más -
Patatas fritas en freidora de aire sin aceite 25 min · 154 kcal por porción Alimentos integralesBajo en grasaSin aceiteRápido+6 más
Acerola (west indian cherry), raw
Guavas, common, raw
Litchis, dried
Currants, european black, raw
Hot chili peppers, red, raw
Orange peel, raw
Parsley, fresh
Red bell peppers, raw