Amazing Health Benefits of Macadamia Nut And Nutritional Value

What is Macadamia Nut?

When you think of macadamia nuts, Hawaii might come to mind, but this nut is actually native to the continent Down Under, which explains why the fruit is also known as the Australian or Queensland Nut. From the Proteacea family of plants, evergreen macadamia trees can reach 40 feet in horizontal as well as vertical spread.

These are some of the most sought-after nuts in the world, so they can be expensive. This has driven up commercial production in other balmy areas like South Africa and Central America where the trees thrive if there’s sufficient water. Introduced in Hawaii in 1881 and soon afterward in California, Hawaii is now the world’s largest exporter. A 10-year-old macadamia tree might produce up to 50 pounds and increase indefinitely.

Besides being a food source, the husks are composted for mulch or for fertilizer, and in Japan, the oil is used in the cosmetic industry to make soaps, shampoos, and sunscreens. The remainder can be used in animal feed. Macadamias are a tough nut to crack, as the saying goes. Containing at least 72 percent oil, they’re encased in a leathery, green husk that splits open as the nut matures. Harvest comes when they fall from the tree, which is when the husk is removed and the nuts are dried. The shell can then be removed using a nutcracker. A handful of these nuts makes a crunchy snack, but they’re also great in cookies, breads and pastries, fruit salads, and garden salads.

Macadamia nuts are a good source of vitamin A, iron, protein, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. They also contain small amounts of selenium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. They have many health benefits which includes preventing heart related diseases, lowering cholesterol level, improving brain and nervous system, preventing Alzheimer’s disease, inhibiting inflammation and arthritis, improving vision, strengthening bones, preventing atherosclerosis, and support gut health.

Macadamia History

1828
Allan Cunningham was the first European to discover the macadamia plant.

1857
German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller gave the genus the scientific name Macadamia – named after von Mueller’s friend Dr. John Macadam, a noted scientist and secretary of the Philosophical Institute of Australia.

1858
Walter Hill, superintendent of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens (Australia), observed a boy eating the kernel without ill effect, becoming the first nonindigenous person recorded to eat macadamia nuts.

1860’s
King Jacky, aboriginal elder of the Logan River clan, south of Brisbane, Queensland, was the first known macadamia entrepreneur, as his tribe and he regularly collected and traded the macadamias with settlers.

1866
Tom Petrie planted macadamias at Yebri Creek (near Petrie) from nuts obtained from Aboriginals at Buderim; 1882
William H. Purvis introduced macadamia nuts to Hawaii as a windbreak for sugar cane.

1888
The first commercial orchard of macadamias was planted at Rous Mill, 12 km from Lismore, New South Wales, by Charles Staff.

1889
Joseph Maiden, Australian botanist, wrote, “It is well worth extensive cultivation, for the nuts are always eagerly bought.”

1910
The Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station encouraged planting of macadamias on Hawaii’s Kona District, as a crop to supplement coffee production in the region.

1916
Tom Petrie begins trial macadamia plantations in Maryborough, Queensland, combining macadamias with pecans to shelter the trees.

1922
Ernest Van Tassel formed the Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Co in Hawaii.

1925
Tassel leased 75 acres (30 ha) on Round Top in Honolulu and began Nutridge, Hawaii’s first macadamia seed farm.

1931
Tassel established a macadamia-processing factory on Puhukaina Street in Kakaako, Hawaii, selling the nuts as Van’s Macadamia Nuts.

1937
Winston Jones and J. H. Beaumont of the University of Hawaii’s Agricultural Experiment Station reported the first successful grafting of macadamias, paving the way for mass production.

1940’s
Steve Angus, Murwillumbah, Australia, formed Macadamia Nuts Pty Ltd, doing small-scale nut processing.

1946
A large plantation was established in Hawaii.

1953
Castle & Cooke added a new brand of macadamia nuts called “Royal Hawaiian”, which was credited with popularizing the nuts in the U.S.

1997
Australia surpassed the United States as the major producer of macadamias.

2012–15
South Africa surpassed Australia as the largest producer of macadamias.

2014
Macadamia nuts were responsible for the delay of Korean Air Flight 86 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. This “nut rage incident” gave the nuts high visibility in the South Korean economy and marked a sharp increase in consumption there.

Macadamia Nutrition

If you love macadamia nuts you might choose this variety over almonds or walnuts. But are macadamia nuts healthy? The fat and calories in macadamia nuts might tempt you to avoid them. But this crunchy, smooth nut provides some health benefits.

Macadamia nuts are kernels that are produced by the macadamia nut tree, originally from Australia but now found in many parts of the world, including Hawaii. The nuts have a hard outer shell that is removed before the nuts are processed. Often, the nuts are roasted or fried in oil. Macadamia nuts are sold as a snack food, widely used in baking and used to flavor products like ice cream.

The nutrition data provided on the label is for raw macadamia nuts. If the nuts are processed or cooked with oil or if other ingredients are added the nutrition data will change.

• A single one-ounce serving of roasted, salted macadamia nuts provides 235 calories, 25 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 100 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
• A single two-ounce serving of chocolate covered macadamia nuts provides 320 calories, 26 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 21 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein.
• A single one-ounce serving of nut snack mix containing macadamia nuts provides 167 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 202 milligrams of sodium, 13 grams of carbohydrate, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 3 grams of sugar and 6 grams of protein.
• One ounce of macadamia nut flour that is sometimes used as a gluten-free starch substitute provides 205 calories, 21 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 7 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of protein.

Raw, unsalted macadamias	Per 30g serve	Per 100g	Daily Recommended	Percent of recommended per serve
Sodium (mg)	0.5	1.4	1600mg (SDT)	0%
Potassium (mg)	135	410	4700mg (SDT)	3%
Magnesium (mg)	39	130	320mg (RDI)	12%
Calcium (mg)	25.5f	85.0	800mg (RDI)	5%
Iron (mg)	1.1	3.7	12mg (RDI)	9%
Zinc (mg)	0.4	1.3	12mg (RDI)	3%
Thiamin, B1 (mg)	0.4	1.2	1.1mg (RDI)	33%
Riboflavin, B2 (mg)	0.05	0.16	1.7mg (RDI)	3%
Niacin (mg)	0.8	2.5	10mg (RDI)	8%
Folate (µg)	3.3	11	200ug (RDI)	2%
Pantothenic acid (mg)	0.2	0.76	5mg (RDI)	4%
Vitamin B61 (mg)	0.08	0.28	1.6mg (RDI)	5%
Vitamin E1 (mg)	0.15	0.5	10mg (RDI)	1.5%
Copper (mg)2	0.23	0.76	3mg (RDI)	8%
Manganese 1 (mg)2	1.2	4.13	5mg (RDI)	25%
Selenium 1 (µg)2	1.1	3.6	70mg (RDI)	1.6%
Arginine 1 (g)	0.4	1.40	N/A	N/A
Plant sterols (mg)	35	116	N/A	N/A
Antioxidant Capacity (ORAC- umol TE)2	559	1695	N/A	N/A

Amount Per 100 grams

• Calories 718
• Fat 76 g – 116% RDA
• Cholesterol 0 mg
• Sodium 5 mg
• Potassium 368 mg – 10% RDA
• Carbohydrate 14 g – 4% RDA
• Dietary fiber 9 g – 36% RDA
• Sugar 4.6 g
• Protein 8 g – 16% RDA
• Vitamin C 2% RDA
• Calcium 8% RDA
• Iron 20% RDA
• Vitamin B-6 15% RDA
• Magnesium 32% RDA

Protein: Macadamia nuts are also rich in essential and non essential amino acids which play an important role in the body’s muscle formation, connective tissues and blood plasma development and overall well-being.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates, also described as dietary fiber are the most basic source of energy in our body. In their most simplest form, they are present as saccharides (sugar) in the body. Hence, these nutritional nuts are also a good source of sugars, sucrose, fructose, glucose and maltose, and some other starch-based material.

Minerals and Vitamins: Macadamia nuts are loaded with vitamins like vitamin E, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin, pantothenic acid (B5) and folate, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Hence, the nuts promote healthy bone and teeth formation, as well regulate the body’s fluid balance and immune system. Also they enhance our nervous system and promotes healthy skin.

Dietary Fiber: Dietary fibers are nothing but roughage or complex carbohydrates that give a feeling of fullness and reduce appetite. Hence, macadamia nuts are rich in complex carbohydrates like lignans, hemicellulose, amylopectins, mucilage, gums and insoluble cellulose which promote desirable intestinal bacteria, slow digestion, and reduce constipation, hunger pangs, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems.

Phytonutrients: Macadamia nuts are good source of phytonutrients or phytochemicals like tocopherols and tocotrienols, (derivatives of Vitamin E), the biologically active components in the body that help remove free radicals which oxidize blood fats and damage healthy cells. Hence, their antioxidant properties reduce the possibilities of certain types of cancer like breast, cervical, gastrointestinal, lung, stomach and prostate cancer. Moreover, regular intake of the macadamia nuts serves in the growth of new tissues, slow down the aging process and also denigrates birth defects.

Macadamia nut

Health Benefits of Macadamia Nut

1. Heart Health

Macadamia nuts are also rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which can make platelets less sticky and less likely to form clots in blood vessels. This prevents heart attack or stroke.

2. Aids in weight loss

Macadamia nuts contain fiber which causes a full feeling which means that it increases satiety. This helps prevent snacking and overeating which may lead to weight gain.

3. Brain Health

Macadamia nut has palmitoleic acid, which also is an important component of myelin (myelin is a fatty layer that protects nerve cells in the brain). They also contain copper, vitamin B1, manganese and magnesium – which aid the production of healthy neurotransmitters.Omega 9 in macadamia nut help enhance memory and prevent several neurological diseases.

4. Skin Health

The essential fatty acids in macadamia nuts play a role in skin health. The palmitoleic acid in the nuts is another essential fatty acid that hydrates the skin, promotes skin healing, and supports the health of cell membranes. The palmitoleic acid also helps delay skin aging. It prevents the early onset of the signs of aging like wrinkles and age spots.

5. Relieves Stress

Macadamia nuts can help relieve oxidative stress. The antioxidants fight free radicals, high levels of which can lead to oxidative stress and an increased risk of disease. Macadamia nuts also contain high-quality protein, though only in a small amount. Research says that a handful of macadamia nuts, due to their high-quality protein content, can keep your blood sugar levels in check and provide a steady flow of enhanced energy and mood.

6. Relieve Inflammation And Arthritis

Macadamia nuts are also good sources of alpha-linolenic acid, a type of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid that helps treat inflammation and prevents subsequent arthritis. The omega-6 fatty acids provide a variety of nutritional benefits. Chronic inflammation is known to be the root cause of serious diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and more. Macadamia nut oil is rich in oleic acid, which plays an important role in the reduction of inflammation. This nut’s low toxicity and inhibitory effect has a potential to reduce arthritis and its onset.

7. Aids in digestion

Macadamia nuts contains both soluble and insoluble fiber – these flush toxins out of the body and also aid digestion. The nuts are particularly rich in copper that supports the enzymatic reactions that improve digestive health.

8. Strengthen bones

Macadamia contains some amount of calcium that can help your body to keep strong bones. Calsium is important in keeping bone mass and it also can prevent us from osteoporosis.

9. Promote metabolism

Macadamia contains many vitamin B-complex which contribute in the body metabolism. It contains niacin, pyridoxin, thiamin and riboflavin that are the co-factor of some metabolic enzyme. By contains high number of those vitamin, macadamia help the body to produce energy for cell and the whole body.

10. Prevent anemia

Macadamia is good source of iron that known can prevent the body from lack of red blood cell. Lack of red blood cell can cause anemia. Anemia can disturb the body function on oxygen transport resulting in weak body, low stamina and other metabolic problem.consuming  30 g of macadamia nuts will fulfill your 14% daily intake of iron in man and 6% for women.

11. Improve Blood Sugar Levels

Nuts, in general, are known to relieve the impact of certain health issues that come along with diabetes. This statement is further proved by a Canadian study – which talks about how tree nuts (including macadamia nuts) can improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Macadamia nuts have a unique profile of macro and micronutrients and other bioactive compounds that help improve blood sugar levels and counter the ill effects of diabetes. Another report suggests that though macadamia nuts have fats, they are okay to be consumed during diabetes. As these nuts contain monounsaturated fatty acids, they help lower bad cholesterol.

12. Support Gut Health

Oh, by the way, the nuts contain both soluble and insoluble fiber – these flush toxins out of the body and also aid digestion. The nuts are particularly rich in copper that supports the enzymatic reactions that improve digestive health. But take care of where you buy your macadamia nuts from – as recent sources speak of the growing levels of salmonella in tree nuts (macadamia nuts, included) that can lead to issues like diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

13. Boost Healthy Fats

We already saw these nuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, the healthy fats. Macadamia nuts are 75% fat, but most of that is the monounsaturated type. A typical US diet contains about 37% fat, and as per one study, replacing that fat with fat from macadamia nuts had dramatically improved lipid profiles. Other reports also state that macadamia nuts boost HDL, the good cholesterol, and lower the levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol.

14. Strengthen Hair

The palmitoleic acid, once again, comes to the rescue here. It treats dry hair and strengthens the hair roots. Massaging your hair regularly with macadamia nut oil makes it shine, stimulates hair growth, and rebuilds hair elasticity. The nut oil also prevents hair breakage by penetrating the scalp and improving the strength of the hair follicles. The oil also controls frizz. It hydrates the hair as well. You saw how good the benefits are. But there’s a catch – how can you avail the benefits if you aren’t sure about selecting the right kind of nuts and storing them?

15. Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Macadamias bring great advantages to the brain by promoting healthier brain cells and preventing the brain cell from damage that leads to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Consuming macadamia nuts helps us to stay focused and promotes a healthy brain in old age.

16. Lowers Cholesterol

Macadamia nuts can inhibit the accumulation of cholesterol in our blood vessels. Macadamias contain large amount of mono-unsaturated fat (oleic acid and palmitoleic acid), well known to decrease the level of LDL (bad fat) and boost HDL (good fat) levels in the body. Consuming Macadamias on a regular basis can help maintain a healthy blood profile and keep a person’s cholesterol level in check.

17. Improves Vision

Macadamia nut contains Vitamin B1 and Essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 which are essential in preventing the eyes from developing cataracts and maintaining healthy eyes.

18. Prevents Atherosclerosis

A study conducted by American College of Nutrition showed, consuming 40-90 gm of macadamia nuts every day for about 4 weeks can reduce the chance of atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by thickening of arteries or blood vessels.

19. Helps Control Kidney Disease

The number of people suffering from kidney disease has been on a rise. The manganese found in Macadamia nuts can help patients suffering from kidney disease. However, since they are rich in phosphorus it is advised to limit the intake for patients that have renal problems.

20. Prevents Celiac Disease

Macadamia nut is a plant-based food, free from gluten. Macadamia is used in gluten-free food and it is a perfect snack for people who suffer from celiac disease, a condition in which individuals are allergic to gluten.

How To Select And Store Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are found all year round, so we don’t have to worry about the season in their case. There are also numerous types of macadamia nuts (sweetened, salted, shelled, unshelled, etc.) available in the market.

Selection

Go for those without any additives – those that don’t contain any salt or sweeteners. The best macadamia nuts are compact, smooth, and uniform in size. They don’t have any cracks and don’t emit any weird smell.

Storage

Store the nuts in a cool and dry place. They can stay in your pantry for months without getting spoilt. But do check from time to time for growth of any mold or bacteria. Also, in case you have purchased shelled kernels, they should go into an airtight container right inside your refrigerator. Otherwise, they might go rancid quite fast.

And by the way, you might want to use a special device to crack the nuts open. This macadamia nut cracker can help you get the job done. You might want to eat the nuts raw. Which is okay. But adding them to some tasteful recipes can only make your day more special.

Macadamia Nut Recipes

A couple of popular dishes include White chocolate macadamia nut cookies and Blueberry macadamia cheesecake.

1. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup of softened butter
• ½ cup of white sugar
• ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon of almond extract
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup of white chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350o F.
2. In a large bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix until the mixture is smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
3. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda and gradually stir into the creamy mixture.
5. Add the macadamia nuts and white chocolate. Drop this dough with a spoon on greased cookie sheets.
6. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cookies are golden brown.
7. Serve.

2. Blueberry Macadamia Cheesecake

Ingredients

• For the crust, you need 3 ½ ounces of macadamias (crushed in a blender), 1 cup of flour, ¼ cup of firmly packed brown sugar, and ½ cup of softened sweet butter.
• For the 1st layer, you need 24 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 cup of sugar, and 4 eggs.
• For the 2nd layer, you need 1 cup of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• And for the topping, you need 2 cups of fresh blueberries, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 3 tablespoons of cold water.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400o F.
2. For making the crust, combine the respective ingredients and mix well. Press on the bottom of the 10-inch pan, and let it bake for 15 minutes.
3. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. For making the first layer, crumble the cheese in a large bowl and add the vanilla extract, sugar, and eggs.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat at high speed. Do this until the mixture is well blended and smooth.
5. Pour the mixture over the crust.
6. Bake for 40 minutes until it is set. Ensure it is not completely firm.
7. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
8. Now, for the next layer, combine the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Spread it over the cake.
9. Bake for 5 minutes and let it cool.
10. For the topping, mix the cornstarch with cold water to form a smooth paste.
11. Stir in the berries and cook until the mixture is thick. Let it cool and then spread the mixture on the cheesecake.
12. Cool for about an hour before serving.
13. Not just in these recipes, there are other ways you can use macadamia nuts.

Macadamia Oil

The most important health benefits of macadamia nut oil include its ability to lower triglyceride levels, improve heart health, boost energy levels, improve your digestive process, and help those suffering from Celiac disease. It helps boost bone health, stimulate circulation, protect eye health, prevent chronic diseases, and optimize immune system and other protective systems.

What is Macadamia Nut Oil?

You may be familiar with macadamia nuts, which are one of the most popular varieties of nuts, due to their rich flavor and high nutrient profile. However, what’s even more valuable is the macadamia nut oil that can be extracted from these nuts for a number of uses. Macadamia nut oil is clear to slightly amber in color and retains a slightly nutty flavor, as macadamia nuts are quite strong in their flavor.

Fatty Acid Content

The fatty acid composition of macadamia nut oil makes it extremely valuable as a vegetable oil for frying or cooking; it is composed of nearly 60% oleic acid, as well as significant levels of palmitoleic acid and smaller amounts of linoleic acid. Although many people consider fats to be bad across the board, the truth of the matter is that we need certain monounsaturated fats to balance our cholesterol levels and ensure that our bodies run smoothly. Macadamia nut oil is available in many places around the world, although it isn’t as popular as other alternative vegetable oils.

Health Benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil

The health benefits of macadamia nut oil include the following:

Heart Health

Macadamia nut oil boasts a high content of beneficial fatty acids that make it better than many other oils, even the sacred olive oil that so many people praise! Triglycerides are essentially fat in the blood, which can be very dangerous for your heart, as it can clog the arteries, raising your chances of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. The high oleic acid content in macadamia nut oil (even higher than olive oil) makes it important for rebalancing your cholesterol levels and actually reducing the levels of triglycerides in the blood. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are the most commonly discussed fats, and ideally, our bodies would have an even balance. Macadamia nut oil basically has this balance, making it optimal for the human body as a source of these fats.

Energy Levels

Although the benefits to heart health and cholesterol balance are clear, macadamia nuts also feature an extremely high number of calories, which can represent a quick boost of energy to the body, something which the oil can also provide. [4] However, you should be careful with the dose of macadamia nuts and macadamia nut oil while consuming, as it can quickly translate into weight gain and obesity, which comes with its own long list of health risks.

Antioxidant Potential

Research has revealed that macadamia nut oil contains a high level of antioxidants, including tocotrienols, which can have a powerful effect on the overall health of the body. Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals, the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause a wide range of chronic diseases, including cancer, apoptosis, and cell mutation. The high antioxidant content in macadamia nut oil makes it a potent addition to your immune system and can help to clean out your entire system.

Eye Health

Some of the antioxidants in macadamia nut oil have been linked to boosting eye health, namely by preventing macular degeneration and slowing the development of cataracts. This is achieved through the same free-radical-neutralizing process as the other antioxidant effects of macadamia nut oil.

Skin Care

One of the antioxidants in macadamia nut oil, squalene, is rare and has a particularly strong impact on our skin. Squalene is a naturally occurring antioxidant in our body, but adding more through macadamia nut oil can help reduce oxidative stress on the body’s fats and the skin, helping to prevent wrinkles, age spots, slow healing rates, and other signs of aging.

Shaving and Moisturizing

Although this is similar to the aforementioned benefits for the skin, macadamia nut oil can be a wonderful way to moisturize the skin on a daily basis, particularly for men who regularly shave. Rather than using traditional shaving oils, the smooth, anti-inflammatory nature of macadamia nut oil can help soothe the skin and moisturize it at the same time, leaving smoother and healthier skin behind.

Hair and Lip Health

The rich acid content of macadamia nut oil also makes it beneficial for your hair; mixing it into natural shampoos can help increase the shine and health of your hair, and strengthen the follicles in their beds, reducing hair loss. You can also make natural lip balm with macadamia nut oil and beeswax to significantly boost the appearance and health of your lips; the rapid healing properties help chapped lips very quickly and reduce any inflammation in sores or wounds.

Retains Healthy Fats

Although this isn’t a definitive health benefit, macadamia nut oil has a higher smoke point than other vegetable oils, like olive oil. Therefore, when you’re cooking with macadamia nut oil, you are far less likely to burn off the beneficial fats, which are the main reason why you are using the oil in the first place. This will also help retain the flavor of the oil, which is pleasant and beneficial to many meals, particularly when used as a salad oil.

Uses Of Macadamia Oil

• Macadamia nut oil is used in culinary applications (typically as a frying oil),
• It is also used in certain cosmetics for the hair and skin.
• The composition of the acid makes it very stable, which is why it is so highly praised in cosmetic applications.
• Word of Caution: As mentioned earlier, having a high level of fats in the body, even beneficial ones, can lead to weight gain, and considering that many people will associate macadamia nut oil with the nuts themselves (which have a shocking 718 calories per 100 grams), they may indulge and see some weight gain as a result. Also, macadamia nut oil has been known to cause constipation in limited cases. Finally, for those who suffer from nut allergies, the extracted oils don’t always cause allergic reactions, but in some cases, a similar allergic reaction can occur. Consult a medical professional before making any major changes to your diet, health supplement regimen, or cooking style.

How to Make Macadamia Oil

Ways To Use Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nut oil can be used to cook a wide variety of delicious foods. It works very well as a salad dressing because it has an almost sweet and nutty flavor. It is also a wonderful oil for frying and baking. Macadamia nut oil tastes great with everything from fruits to cheese and veggies. There is no end to the things you can do with it!

Apart from cooking with macadamia nut oil, you can also use it topically and give your skin and hair all the benefits it has to offer. To condition your hair, warm it and massage your hair and scalp with it. To keep your skin young-looking and moisturized, you can use it on your body after your daily shower. You can also use this fantastic oil to treat damaged cuticles.

You might also want to add the nuts to your morning oatmeal for a sumptuous breakfast. Or even add chopped macadamia nuts to your evening salad. You can process macadamia nuts as butter and use it in the place of peanut butter.

In case you were wondering…

Where To Buy Macadamia Nuts?

• Preferably from your nearest supermarket. Or you can purchase them online. Organic is always best.
• You can also get them from Mouna Loa. You can also lay your hands on the all-popular Hawaiian chocolate macadamia nuts.
• Let’s quit the serious stuff for a while. How about some fun facts about these nuts?

Facts About Macadamia Nuts

• Most of the macadamia nuts in the world are grown on the island of Hawaii.
• The nuts were first introduced to Hawaii way back in 1881, as ornaments. And the first commercial orchards of the nuts started in 1921.
• Macadamia nuts are the toughest of nuts. It takes 300 pounds per square inch of pressure to crack ’em. They are a tough nut to crack, for sure.
• The United States of America is the largest consumer of macadamia nuts (51% of the world’s total consumption) while Japan sits at a distant second (15%).
• Every year, September 4 is celebrated as the National Macadamia Nut Day.
• No matter how good anything is in this world, it does have a shade of darkness. And so does the macadamia nut.

Negative Effects Of Macadamia Nut

Macadamia nuts are high in fiber but the process of drying which makes them suitable for consumption shaves off a lot of water content from them. This makes it a low water, high fiber food which if taken in excessive quantities can cause constipation and diarrhea. Eat them in moderation and drink a lot of water before and after snacking on them.

Though it does not contain Gluten which is usually the reason for allergic reaction in some people, Macadamia nuts do pack other minerals and compounds that may cause intolerance and allergy. If you have a history of allergy due to nuts and are still not sure what exactly causes it, then taking a sage approach is recommended. Talk to your physician and look at the best way of trying out this nut without putting yourself in danger of an allergic reaction.

• Allergies

Skin allergies like rashes and other allergies like coughing can be a cause of excessive intake of macadamia nuts.

• Blood Pressure

In case the nuts you purchased are salted, they can elevate your blood pressure levels. Hence, go for the unsalted (and also, unsweetened) variety.

• Gastrointestinal Issues

Given that they are good sources of fiber, having too many of them can cause gastrointestinal issues like gas, diarrhea, and bloating.

• Issues In Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women

Macadamia nuts are safe when taken in normal amounts. We don’t know what will happen if they are taken in excess. Hence, stick to normal amounts. A couple of ounces of these nuts a day would do. Not more.

• Weight Gain

Nuts are high in fat. Though most of the fat is unsaturated and beneficial in lowering cholesterol, high fat means high calories. The Harvard Medical School recommends that if you add nuts to your diet, you subtract an equivalent amount of calories elsewhere. If you don’t, this healthy snack could help you pack on the pounds.

How Much Is Too Much?

According to Alice Henneman, a dietician associated with the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, one serving of nuts equals about a third of a cup. Because it’s easy to keep eating nuts out of a jar or bag, divide your jar of nuts into individual servings in small plastic bags or jars. Enjoy one package of nuts at a time and fight the temptation to eat more.