Why are so many hot-climate plants high in fat?

[toadspittle]

Macadamia nuts. Oil palms. Coconuts. Avocados. Why do so many hot-climate plants (well, their fruits) have such high fat contents?

[Northern_Piper]

The Master Speaks: Why is palm oil bad for you?.

@Cecil Adams

Nontropical oils, such as corn, soy, and safflower, are high in polyunsaturated fats, which reduce blood cholesterol. Why are tropical oils different? Because they come from more forgiving climates. Vegetable oils are a major component of plant cell membranes. But they’ve got to stay liquid to work, and saturated fats congeal when cold. To avoid this, plants in northern climates have to produce unsaturated fats, which don’t congeal. That takes extra energy. Tropical plants, though, can get by with the saturated stuff, which is easier to make.

[toadspittle]

Ah! So the question really should have been, “Why AREN’T COOL-climate plants so fatty?” Neat.

Thanks.

[Jackmannii]

There are claims made (supported to a variable degree by research) that some tropical plant oils may actually have health benefits, or at least aren’t as bad for you as non-tropical plant-derived oils.

For instance, there has been a campaign by promoters of coconut oil to convince consumers that it is healthier than cooking oils traditionally used in Western countries.

What these claims don’t take into account is that 1) tropical oils are high in calories, and 2) the studies the industry cites showing lower rates of (for example) heart disease in users of coconut oil, involve non-Western peoples who eat less, especially less meat.

If you substituted coconut oil in the usual American diet without making other changes, you’d arguably wind up with even worse health consequences.