Good Sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Increase your consumption of these foods to increase your Omega 3 intake and you will reap the health benefits.

To meet the daily needs of omega-3 fats for kids and adults, look for these food sources:

Salmon

Sardines

Mackerel

Fresh tuna

Trout

Herring

Halibut

Oysters

Shrimp

Beef

Flaxseeds

Walnuts

Chia seeds

Soy beans

Or these foods which are commonly fortified with omega-3 fats:

Eggs

Juice

Milk

Yogurt

The evidence of health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet has spurred innovations in the food supply.  New food and beverage products with added omega 3 fatty acids are emerging in the market place.  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed a number of fish and algal oils to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for food fortification.  Algal oil is useful for those concerned with fish consumption and those who do not include fish in their diet, such as some vegetarians.  Examples of foods being fortified with omega 3 fatty acids include milk-based products, juices, table spreads, salad dressings, sauces, breakfast cereals, baked goods, sauces, infant formulas, baby foods and juices, among others.

Additional strategies for increasing the omega 3 fatty acid content of some foods include bio-delivery and biotechnology. Bio-delivery involves adding omega 3 fatty acids to animal feed so that their tissues become enriched. Some examples of foods that have been enriched with omega-3 fatty acids in this manner include eggs, beef, and pork products.  Biotechnology involves cultivating varieties of plants containing greater levels of fatty acids.  However, these plant varieties are currently in development and have not yet been introduced into the marketplace.