Final answer:
Coconut oil and palm oil are more like animal fats because they contain fewer double bonds, resulting in a higher content of saturated fatty acids, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Coconut oil and palm oil are more like animal fats than other plant oils because they contain fewer double bonds than other plant oils. This characteristic is important because the presence of double bonds in fatty acid chains affects whether a fat is saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fats, which contain no carbon-to-carbon double bonds, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because saturated fats can contribute to the development of plaque in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart attacks.
Coconut oil is particularly high in saturated fatty acids such as lauric acid (C12:0), and palm oil also has a higher balance of saturated fatty acids. These saturated fatty acids lack the double bonds that create kinks in the carbon chain, allowing them to pack together tightly and increasing the risk of heart disease.