She said Stephanie Venn-Watson had learned to live long before he realized it. Veterinary epidemiologists were recruited by the U.S. Navy to take care of the 2001 dolphin.

Venn-Watson plans to study dolphins to better understand infectious diseases, but “instead, she quickly looked at chronic diseases and aging diseases,” she has completed for more than 20 years, she told CNBC in February.

Wien Watson said that although dolphins in the wild usually live to around 20 years old, naval dolphins live more than 40 and 50 years old. Although some dolphins are developing diseases such as chronic inflammation, high cholesterol and even changes in the brain, changes in the brain are similar to Alzheimer's, while others are completely healthy in older age.

After analyzing thousands of samples collected over about 50 years, Venn-Watson and her team were able to identify what the healthiest aging dolphins have in common. "We thought it would be omega-3 because they were eating fish. Instead, it was C15:0, a saturated fatty acid I've never heard of," she said.

Venn-Watson and her team have discovered a new essential fatty acid C15:0 that, like Omega-3, can improve mammal health. Further research by experts outside her team supports this claim. Their discovery marks "the first essential fatty acid found in more than ninety years," a discovery that gave Venn-Watson a spot on the CNBC 2025 Changemakers list earlier this year.

Venn-Watson, with her husband, Navy Doctor, started Seraphina therapy and developed a C15:0 for humans. She also published a book about her discovery of “Longevity” in March.

To increase the intake of lifespan nutrients in your diet, Venn-Watson ate certain foods that are high in C15:0.

This is the first food she eats to get more fatty acids.

When Venn-Watson planned to have a meal, she was always committed to maximizing her C15:0 intake. "The key way I do this is through herbivorous cheeses brought by herbivores; these cheeses have the highest C15:0 levels," she said.

Usually, daily snacks can help her increase the nutrients she gets for life: “I eat cheese snacks almost every day.”

Pairing her eating hermes-fed cheese with cookies helps her get another important nutrient for her body: fiber.

"We also learned that fiber is very important. So classic cheese and cookies (high fiber cookies, so not cream pie filled with processed carbs)," Venn-Watson said.

“For example, Pecorino has the highest nutritional content, including C15:0.”

Despite her discovery of a new essential fatty acid, she still prioritizes long-standing fatty acids such as omega-3. "I eat very high. I probably have fish and dairy fat every day," she said.

In addition to the food she eats, Venn-Watson doubles down on her efforts by taking certain vitamins to improve her health: “I supplemented the Navy’s 10 years of investment in manufacturing, which is pure C15:0 supplement.”

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