>I thought vit C increases NON-HEME iron absorption (iron in meat is in
>heme form)??

i stand corrected (actually, i'm sitting corrected).
i went back and checked, and you are entirely right, iron in plant sources
is non-heme (or ionic).  the absorption of this type of iron is favorably
affected by ascorbic acid, and by meat, and decreased by phytates,
phosphates (the iron forms insoluble salts with these), egg yolks, and tea.
heme iron, like that found in meat, is not affected by any of these things.

JoAnn.