Omega-3 fatty acids have various benefits for your body and brain.
Many mainstream health organizations recommend a minimum of 250–500 mg of omega-3s per day for healthy adults.
You can get high amounts of omega-3 fats from fatty fish, algae, and several high-fat plant foods.
Here is a list of 12 foods that are very high in omega-3.
1. Mackerel (4,107 mg per serving)
Mackerel are small, fatty fish.
In Western countries, they are commonly smoked and eaten as whole fillets.
Mackerel are incredibly rich in nutrients — a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving packs 200% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B12 and 100% for selenium.
What’s more, these fish are delicious and require little preparation.
Omega-3 content: 4,107 mg in one piece of salted mackerel, or 5,134 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
2. Salmon (4,123 mg per serving)
Salmon is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
It contains high-quality protein and a variety of nutrients, including large amounts of vitamin D, selenium, and B vitamins.
Studies show that people who regularly eat fatty fish, such as salmon, have a lower risk of diseases like heart disease, dementia, and depression.
Omega-3 content: 4,123 mg in half a fillet of cooked, farmed Atlantic salmon, or 2,260 mg in 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
3. Cod liver oil (2,682 mg per serving)
Cod liver oil is more of a supplement than a food.
As the name implies, it is an oil extracted from the livers of codfish.
This oil is not only high in omega-3 fatty acids but also loaded with vitamins D and A, with a single tablespoon providing 170% and 453% of the recommended daily intakes, respectively.
Therefore, taking just one tablespoon of cod liver oil more than satisfies your need for three incredibly important nutrients.
However, don’t take more than one tablespoon at a time, as too much vitamin A can be harmful.
Omega-3 content: 2,682 mg per tablespoon.
4. Herring (946 mg per serving)
Herring is a medium-sized, oily fish. It is often cold-smoked, pickled, or pre-cooked, then sold as a canned snack.
Smoked herring is popular breakfast food in countries like England, where it’s served with eggs and called kippers.
A standard smoked fillet contains almost 100% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin D and selenium and 221% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B12.
Omega-3 content: 946 mg per medium fillet (40 grams) of kippered Atlantic herring, or 2,366 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
5. Oysters (370 mg per serving)
Shellfish are among the most nutritious foods you can eat.
Oysters contain more zinc than any other food on the planet. Just 6 raw eastern oysters (3 ounces or 85 grams) pack 293% of the recommended daily intake for zinc, 70% for copper, and 575% for vitamin B12.
Oysters can be eaten as an appetizer, snack, or whole meal. Raw oysters are a delicacy in many countries.
Omega-3 content: 370 mg in 6 raw, eastern oysters, or 435 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
6. Sardines (2,205 mg per serving)
Sardines are very small, oily fish that are commonly eaten as a starter, snack, or delicacy.
They’re highly nutritious, especially when eaten whole. They contain almost every nutrient your body needs.
3.5 ounces (100 grams) of drained sardines provide over 200% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B12, 24% for vitamin D, and 96% for selenium.
Omega-3 content: 2,205 mg per cup (149 grams) of canned Atlantic sardines, or 1,480 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
7. Anchovies (951 mg per serving)
Anchovies are tiny, oily fish often bought dried or canned.
Usually eaten in very small portions, anchovies can be rolled around capers, stuffed in olives, or used as pizza and salad toppings.
Because of their strong taste, they are also used to flavor many dishes and sauces, including Worcestershire sauce, remoulade, and Caesar dressing.
Suggested read: 7 healthy foods that are high in vitamin D
Anchovies are a great source of niacin and selenium, and boned anchovies are a decent source of calcium.
Omega-3 content: 951 mg per can (2 ounces, or 45 grams) of canned European anchovies, or 2,113 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
8. Caviar (1,086 mg per serving)
Caviar consists of fish eggs or roe.
Widely regarded as a luxurious food item, caviar is most often used in small quantities as a starter, taster, or garnish.
Caviar is a good source of choline and a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 content: 1,086 mg per tablespoon (14.3 grams), or 6,786 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
9. Flax seeds (2,350 mg per serving)
Flax seeds are small brown or yellow seeds. They are often ground, milled, or used to make oil.
These seeds are by far the richest whole-food source of the omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Therefore, flaxseed oil is often used as an omega-3 supplement.
Flax seeds are also a good source of fiber, magnesium, and other nutrients. They have a great omega-6 to omega-3 ratio compared with most oily plant seeds.
Omega-3 content: 2,350 mg per tablespoon (10.3 grams) of whole seeds, or 7,260 mg per tablespoon (13.6 grams) of oil.
10. Chia seeds (5,060 mg per serving)
Chia seeds are incredibly nutritious — they’re rich in manganese, selenium, magnesium, and a few other nutrients.
A standard 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of chia seeds contains 5 grams of protein, including all eight essential amino acids.
Omega-3 content: 5,060 mg per ounce (28 grams).
11. Walnuts (2,570 mg per serving)
Walnuts are very nutritious and loaded with fiber. They also contain high amounts of copper, manganese, vitamin E, as well as important plant compounds.
Make sure not to remove the skin, as it packs most of the walnuts’ phenol antioxidants, which offer important health benefits.
Omega-3 content: 2,570 mg per ounce (28 grams), or about 14 walnut halves.
12. Soybeans (1,241 mg per serving)
Soybeans are a good source of fiber and vegetable protein.
They are also a good source of other nutrients, including riboflavin, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium.
However, soybeans are also very high in omega-6 fatty acids. Researchers have hypothesized that eating too much omega-6 may cause inflammation.
Omega-3 content: 670 mg in a 1/2 cup (47 grams) of dry roasted soybeans, or 1,443 mg per 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
13. Other foods?
Keep in mind that sections 1–8 discuss foods that contain the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, which are found in some animal foods, seafood, and algae.
Conversely, sections 9–12 handle foods that provide the omega-3 fat ALA, which is inferior to the other two.
Although not as high in omega-3 as the foods above, many other foods contain decent amounts.
These include pastured eggs, omega-3-enriched eggs, meats, and dairy products from grass-fed animals, hemp seeds, and vegetables like spinach, Brussels sprouts, and purslane.
Summary
As you can see, it’s relatively easy to obtain plenty of omega-3s from whole foods.
Omega-3s provide numerous health benefits, such as fighting inflammation and heart disease.
However, if you don’t eat many of these foods and think you may be lacking in omega-3s, consider taking omega-3 supplements.
