Top 10 Foods with the Highest Omega 3 to Omega 6 Ratio

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Top 10 Foods with the Highest Omega 3 to Omega 6 Ratio

Research suggests that eating a diet with a high omega-3 to omega-6 ratio leads to a reduced risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, developmental disorders, and cognitive aging. (1,2)

This article lists the foods with the highest omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, so that you can achieve a better balance in your diet.

Foods with a high omega-3 to omega-6 ratio include crab, fish (tuna, cod, salmon), mussels, rapini, spinach, flax seeds, mangoes, lettuce, and kidney beans. (3)

There is no daily value set for omega-3s, but the adequate intake (AI) per day is set at 1.6g (4,5). This target is used to calculate the AI of omega-3 for the foods in the list.

Below is a list of foods with high omega 3 to omega 6 ratios, for more, see the list of foods high in omega 3s, and the complete ranking of over 200 foods high in omega 3s per omega 6.

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Printable of foods with a high omega 3 to 6 ratio. Foods with a high Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio include crab, fish (tuna, cod, salmon), mussels, rapini, spinach, flax seeds, mangoes, lettuce, and kidney beans.

Do Leafy Greens like Broccoli Raab, Spinach, and Lettuce really have Omega 3 fats?

While it is surprising, leafy greens like lettuce and spinach do contain omega 3 fats; specifically, alpha-linolenic acid (18:3).

While a cup of butterhead lettuce only has 0.1g of fat, this is equivalent to 100mg of fat. Of those fats 0.046g or 46mg are alpha-Linolenic acid or (18:3).

Viewing the data directly from the USDA we see that 100 grams of butterhead lettuce provides even more than a cup, with 0.083g or 83mg of ALA. This is listed under 18:3 on the USDA website.

While there are many plant foods higher in Omega 3 fats, you don't want to discount leafy green as a source of healthy fats in your diet. A large salad can get you far in meeting your 1600mg recommended daily intake (RDI) for Omega 3s.

About the Data

Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.

You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.

Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

About Nutrient Targets

Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.

Some of the most popular targets include:
  • Daily Value (%DV) - The daily value (%DV) is a general guideline for consumption that will prevent deficiency of a particular nutrient in most people. The %DV refers to the percentage of an amount that\'s found in a single serving of a food. It also accounts for absorption factors. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (%RDA) - The RDA sets an average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals. It\'s more specific than the daily value, and varies by age and gender. The RDA is set by the US National Institutes of Health.
  • Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) -The reference dietary intake is similar to the recommended daily allowance, but is specific to age and gender. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization.
  • Adequate Intake (%AI) - This value is primarily used in reference to omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The Adequate Intake is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Because there is less evidence to determine the ideal targets for consumption of these nutrients, the specific amount is considered to be less reliable. Using the term Adequate Intake, rather than one of the other terms, helps to emphasize that the ideal intake of that particular nutrient has not yet been scientifically determined.

See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.

Want to set your own targets? Sign up for an account and set custom targets in the daily food log.

Use the ranking tool links below to select foods and create your own food list to share or print.


View more nutrients with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.

Data Sources and References

  1. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids
  2. Fatty acids from fish: the anti-inflammatory potential of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
  3. U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
  4. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. The National Academies Press.
  5. Oregan State University on Essential Fatty Acids
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