Canola Oil
This oil has the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids of all everyday cooking oils (1,300 mg of ALA per tablespoon; the Institute of Medicine recommends at least 1,100 mg a day for men and 1,600 for women). You probably already have a bottle of it in your kitchen cabinet. Chefs like it for its high smoke point of 468°F—the temperature at which it begins to smoke and lose frying quality—which makes it versatile for cooking, baking, and stir-frying.
Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed boasts a kind of omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which your body then converts to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are found in fish, according to The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. With its nutty flavor, you can use the oil in smoothies or bake breads with ground flaxseeds. Two tablespoons of ground flaxseed contain 3,800 mg of ALA omega 3s.
Wild Rice
One-half cup of raw wild rice—which is actually a grass, not a grain—contains 240 mg of omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains almost twice the protein and fiber as brown rice, and is high in B vitamins, manganese, zinc, potassium, phosphorous and magnesium, while being relatively low in calories, according to DrWeil.com.
Eggs
Eggs can be enriched when flaxseed and canola oil is added to hen feed, helping the chickens hatch eggs that contain the valuable nutrients. Eggland’s Best eggs are particularly high in omega-3s: Each egg contains 115 mg, which is twice as many of these healthy fats as regular eggs.
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Soybeans
A half-cup sering of boiled, shelled green soybeans (also called edamame) contain 300 mg of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, making them a particularly great source of the nutrient for vegetarians and vegans. Edamame are also rich in protein (11 g per half cup) and fiber (9 g per half cup), which is perfect for a healthy, filling snack.
Walnuts
Rich in heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, walnuts pack in a significant amount of omega-3s (2,600 mg per ounce). Cook veggies and stir-fries in walnut oil instead of olive oil for ten times the amount of omega-3 acids, according to Discovery Fit & Health.
Enriched Dairy Foods
Grass-fed cows, goats, and sheep produce milk with higher amounts of omega-3s than those who eat other types of feed, according to Discovery Fit & Health, about 100 mg per eight-ounce serving of milk. For even higher levels, look for enriched dairy products that include omega-3 content on the label; they likely have been fortified with fish oil. You won’t be able to taste the fish, but skip this source of omega-3s if you’re allergic to seafood.
Healthy Eating – Reader's Digest
