Omega-3 fatty acids in food

Omega-3 fatty acids make up a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for health. They’re an important component of every cell wall, including your heart, brain, and eye tissue. They play a role in reducing inflammation, keeping blood vessels healthy, and developing and maintaining brain, nerve, and eye health. The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The body can’t create ALA or make enough EPA and DHA from the ALA you get from foods to meet your body’s needs, so you need to consume EPA, DHA, and ALA omega-3 fatty acids from food sources. 

Plant-based foods and oils—including walnuts, canola, soybean, and flaxseed/linseed—are sources high in ALA. EPA and DHA can be found primarily in seafood. Cold-water oily fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and tuna) has the most. Other fish and shellfish, such as shrimp and oysters, also contain omega-3 fatty acids, but in lesser amounts. Although not high in omega-3 fatty acids, some game meat (elk, deer, and antelope) contains a small amount. And some foods now have omega-3 fatty acids added, so you can find it in certain eggs, soymilk, juices, and other beverages too.

The Adequate Intakes (AI) for ALA are 1.6 g/day for men and 1.1 g/day for women. There are no official recommendations for EPA and DHA. However, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests consuming at least 8 ounces (approximately 2 servings) per week of cold-water fish, which will provide about 250 mg of EPA+DHA per day.

Learn more about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids from the National Institutes of Health. For a list of some foods high in omega-3 content, see the table below.