The Australian community could be saving a maximum of $4.2billion if all heart attack survivors began taking fish oil supplements, a new report by Deloitte Access Economics (commissioned by the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia) claims.

"Taking fish oil supplements is undoubtedly good for your heart health, but this maximum figure is based on a best-case scenario and would require people to make other lifestyle changes as well," said Dr Robert Grenfell, Clinical Issues Director at the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

To improve heart health, the Heart Foundation recommends Australian adults consume about 500mg of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats every day from oily fish or fish oil supplements, rising to 1000mg for those with heart disease.

"Omega-3 fats, found in oily fish and seafood as well as fish oil supplements, help to reduce the risk of heart disease and maintain general good health.

"All Australians should aim to eat two to three serves of 150 grams of oily fish or seafood a week in order to reduce their risk of heart disease.

"The recommended dose of omega-3 fats doubles for people who already have heart disease and can easily be achieved by additionally using fish oil supplements," Dr Grenfell said.

Fish oil is recommended for heart disease patients, along with aspirin, blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

"Omega-3 fats are essential nutrients for a healthy heart. We need them for numerous normal body functions, such as controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain.

"Our bodies cannot manufacture omega-3 fats, so we must get them through food - particularly fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines - or fish oil supplements," Dr Grenfell said.

For more details about the Heart Foundation position on fish oil, visit http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Fish-FishOils-position-statement.pdf

For healthier recipe ideas using fish visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes