Beyond Omega-3s: 14 Rare Fats Your Brain and Joints Desperately Need

What to do next: thoughtful choices, not quick fixes

These 14 fats are a reminder that dietary lipids play varied roles beyond simple calories. Some are structural—helping membranes and myelin keep their shape—while others are signaling molecules that help tissues calm down after stress or support repair. The quality of evidence varies across the list. For a few items, clinical trials give clear guidance; for others, laboratory and early clinical work points toward potential value that deserves further study. That’s normal in nutrition science: discovery often moves from bench to bedside over years.