In this captivating conversation, Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson shares how her decades of work with aging Navy dolphins unexpectedly revealed one of the most important nutritional discoveries of our time: a previously overlooked fatty acid called C15:0. Through advanced metabolomic analysis, Dr. Stephanie’s team found that the dolphins who lived significantly longer had higher levels of C15, a nutrient primarily found in whole-fat dairy and certain fish. As Christian and Dr. Stephanie explore, C15 plays a critical role in stabilizing the cell membrane, helping protect against cellular breakdown, inflammation, and a newly recognized form of cell death called ferroptosis.

C15 isn’t just structural—it’s bioactive, impacting everything from inflammation to metabolism, and even acting as a fully functioning endocannabinoid. The discussion highlights the importance of balance in our diets: while omega-3s have long been celebrated, excessive intake can lead to too much membrane fluidity. C15, by contrast, provides the Goldilocks effect—stable enough to resist damage, yet still functional. The reintroduction of C15 into the modern diet, through supplements like Fatty15, is now seen as a promising way to rebuild cell membranes and combat the rising tide of age-related diseases.

Dr. Stephanie also explains how quickly the body can adapt to better nutritional inputs. Within just three months of C15 supplementation, individuals can begin to replace their membrane lipids with more resilient structures. Drawing parallels with the long-lived people of Sardinia—whose diets are naturally rich in C15 from goat and sheep dairy—she makes the case that boosting this one nutrient could help restore cellular integrity and possibly extend health span. With only 200 mg a day needed to avoid deficiency, it's a small dose with a potentially massive impact.

To round out the discussion, Christian and Dr. Stephanie reflect on the ever-evolving nature of science. What was unknown a decade ago—an overlooked fatty acid—is now changing how we understand aging at the cellular level. As Dr. Stephanie shares in her book The Longevity Matriarch, this research is not only hopeful—it’s actionable. You can begin to transform your health at the cellular level starting now, simply by supporting your body’s most basic building blocks