June 13, 2015 · Written by Foodtolive Team
Macadamia Nuts: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Macadamia nuts are sweet and full of flavor. If this is not enough to persuade you include them into your diet, numerous health benefits of this product are sure to do so. These nuts come from Australian rainforests and can be called Australian nuts due to their place of origin. The plants, which bear these fruits, also grow in Brazil, Middle Americas, Hawaiian Islands, and South Africa.
Although there are about seven species of macadamia nuts in the world, only two of them are edible. They are cultivated at specialized farms. The nuts are sweet, crunchy and delicious. Their surface is smooth and buttery. Please pay attention to this when you purchase this product as damaged surface is a sign of a spoiled nut.
Macadamia Nuts Nutrition Facts
As all the other nuts, There are quite a few calories in macadamia nuts (204 per 1 oz. of nuts), but they aren’t harmful to your waist in the least. They are also completely free of cholesterol, which means that they contain only healthy fats. One serving of macadamia nuts (10-12 kernels) provides you with 10% of the required daily dose of dietary fiber and 2.24 grams of protein. Therefore, they make an excellent snack.
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The nutrition value is high due to the high contents of minerals, especially copper and iron. Both these elements are essential for maintaining your health in top shape. Calcium and magnesium are also present in these nuts. These minerals are directly responsible for bone health. Therefore, adding macadamia nuts to your diet is a great decision for all those who are willing to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. This condition can be very dangerous and it is very difficult to avoid when you get older, because human bones lose their density as the years go by. It’s impossible to stop this process completely, so you need to gradually increase the amount of calcium in your diet to counteract the destructive effects of aging.
Health Benefits of Macadamia Nuts
Assistance in your fight against osteoporosis is only one of the many benefits of Some of the other positive things they offer you are:
- These nuts are an excellent source of phytosterols.
These are the elements that replace harmful cholesterol. They provide you with energy without endangering your arteries. This is one of the reasons as to why eating nuts on a regular basis is a good prevention measure for heart disease prevention. - Macadamia nuts are free of gluten.
Gluten-free foods are healthier by default, even for those who don’t suffer from an allergy to this particular element. People who suffer from celiac disease also cannot consume gluten, therefore these nuts are a great source of energy for them. - They can lower bad cholesterol levels.
The fact that these nuts don’t contribute to the cholesterol level in your blood is good, but they actually take the benefits one step further and help lower the levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol already in your blood. This boosts your overall health as well as reduces the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. - Macadamia nuts protect your heart.
It’s not only your blood vessels that this particular food can protect. These nuts are extremely rich in selenium, a mineral that is essential for the health of your heart. Few foods contain high levels of this element, so Macadamia nuts are a definite must in your diet in case you have a predisposition to heart disease. - They boost your metabolism.
Indeed, this food can actually help you lose weight, despite its high calorie count. Macadamia nuts contain large amounts of B vitamins. These chemicals directly influence your metabolism and your health in general. Consuming enough of them will improve your overall wellbeing and normalize your metabolism. Therefore, it will be easier to lose weight without risking your health in the process. - Macadamia nuts are a potent antioxidant.
The harm dealt to your body by free radicals cannot be underestimated. Therefore, everything that provides you with even a modicum of protection should be used. These nuts are rich in vitamins A and E, both powerful antioxidants. They help protect your body and enhance both your health and beauty.
How to Select, Store and Cook Macadamia Nuts
Are macadamia nuts healthy? They definitely are, so you really should include the in your diet. However, to do this, you will need to understand how to select and store them. Otherwise, you might waste your money by purchasing low quality product.
These nuts are available all year round, so the season is irrelevant in this case. You can also find many kinds of them available on the market, including shelled, unshelled, sweetened, salted, etc.
The healthiest options are those, which don’t contain any salt or sweeteners. These things add to the amount of fats present in the nuts. However, unlike the natural fats of the kernel, these are harmful and may end up as a residue on your thighs and stomach. Good macadamia nuts are smooth, compact, uniform in size, devoid of any unnatural cracks and strange smells.
You should store the nuts in a cool dry place. They can safely stay in your pantry for several months without spoiling. However, you should check on them from time to time in order to make sure that mold or bacteria didn’t find their way in. Please note that if you go for shelled kernels, you should store them in an airtight container inside your fridge. Otherwise, they will go rancid quickly.
If you wonder what are macadamia nuts good for, you’ll be happy to learn that they can be used in a great variety of dishes. However, they are most often eaten on their own as a snack. Of course, these nuts will be an excellent addition to any dessert, regardless of whether you decide to put them in a cake or sprinkle on your sundae. They also go well in salads.
Macadamia oil and butter can be used for cooking almost anything. The oil goes down particularly well as dressing for meat and seafood due to its rich flavor.
Warnings and Allergies
As macadamia nuts are NUTS, people allergic to this kind of food must be extremely careful. A reaction to them is not as common as to many other kinds of nuts, but it is possible, so don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Otherwise, these nuts have no contraindications. If eaten in moderation, they are safe for everyone and will definitely make you a healthier person.
