I switched to butter a long time ago because I couldn't pronounce the ingredients in margarine and I figured, if I had to take my chances with something, it might as well be something my body recognises as food.
I also seem to recall reading that very high fat diets are supposed to help kids with epilepsy. The children put cream on their cereal instead of milk. Somehow it's supposed to contol or lessen the severity of their seizures.
Maragine is a "non-food item". Ditto for all hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fats. They don't pass our lips here.
One half of the ljs has high cholesteral (the skinny one!) and the chubby one has low cholesterol. I knew another couple, same thing. A lot of it is genetic. Not that one should ignore the high cholesterol - we lowered it with diet. And there are herbs (including garlic) which are said to lower cholesterol. Actually, I put together a list of food items and herbs which are traditionally used to lower cholesterol, if anyone wants it freepmail me.
Fats are the primary component of the myelin sheaths, the insulation that protects nerve cells and keeps them from shorting out.
I think I've also read that they are needed to make some of the neurotransmitters.