Macadamia (Australian Walnut)

Macadamia nuts are a high-calorie Australian nut. It is considered the most expensive in the world because it is difficult to grow. It is susceptible to pests, and the tree itself begins to bear fruit only 8-10 years after planting. 

Macadamia ripens in 6-7 months in the presence of strong sun. The homeland of the nut is Australia, but the trees are grown in different parts of the world, such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Hawaii and New Zealand.

The ripe macadamia nut has a spherical shape and a diameter of 1.5-2 centimeters. The nuts are covered with hard-peeling tough shells with a greenish-brown color. It has a fine, oily taste and creamy texture. The factories use an automatic line with two rollers to remove the shells. The distance between the shafts is specially made less than the average size of the nut, as a result of which the shell cracks and disintegrates, and the nuts remain intact and are moved for further processing.

Characteristic of the Australian walnut

The wild nut family was first described by the botanist Ferdinand von Müller more than 150 years ago. He named the walnut after his best friend, chemist John Macadam. The plant began to be cultivated in 1858. Professor Walter Hill undertook this task by starting the mass distribution of seedlings among the local population and writing a treatise on the beneficial properties of macadamia nuts. Initially, the collection of nuts was done manually and was quite long and laborious. In one day a person could collect no more than 150 kilograms of nuts. The growth of technological progress has led to the creation of a machine for collecting nuts in Australia, which in 8 hours can collect up to 3 tons of macadamia nuts. In 1972, a record harvest of 70,000 tons of nuts per year was harvested.

Nine varieties of macadamia are already known. Some grow in Australia, while others are cultivated in Hawaii, Brazil, California and South Africa. The plant is not very picky and prefers well-drained oily soil with medium acidity. It is not resistant to frost, and the maximum minimum temperature for it is + 3 ° C.

Macadamia nuts contain essential oils, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, natural sugar, cellulose, vitamins, minerals. Of the vitamins, the largest is the amount of those of group B, vitamin E and PP, and of the minerals - potassium and calcium. It also contains selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc and sodium, as well as organic acids. There is also a lot of fat, so macadamia oil is made into an oil that helps heal wounds, treat burns, is used in cosmetics, restores youth and beauty of the skin.

Health benefits

Despite their high caloric content, nuts prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, improve digestion and blood sugar control; help to lose weight because they remove harmful cholesterol from the body.

One amazing fact: macadamia nuts are very useful for humans , but poisonous for dogs.

The effect on humans is different: consumption of nuts reduces migraine headaches, relieves joint and bone diseases (osteoporosis, arthritis), treats hypovitaminosis, angina, slows the development of tumors, normalizes skin color and fat content in the human body. It is used for tonsillitis, meningitis and osteoarthritis. Nuts have antioxidant properties, are useful in diseases of blood vessels.

Regular use of macadamia helps the body get rid of toxins, normalizes metabolism, and therefore weight, reduces the risk of hypertension and strengthens the immune system.

We mentioned the oil from these nuts - it is extremely valuable: it absorbs perfectly into the skin, moisturizes, softens and nourishes it, so it is used in the manufacture of creams, masks, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, lipsticks and more.

The essential oil can cure second degree burns. It is also used to remove toxins from the body, rejuvenate the skin and smooth wrinkles. Macadamia oil is very similar in its properties to the sebaceous glands of humans, so it is used to stimulate the subcutaneous microcirculation of the blood and strengthen hair follicles.

The oil contains more than 80% unsaturated fatty acids, similar to the fats in our skin. That is why the product is widely used in cosmetics, without its use leading to side effects and allergic reactions.

Macadamia oil is used in the treatment of allergies, keratosis, photodermatitis, hyperpigmentation. Anti-cellulite products with this oil are extremely effective.

Macadamia nuts are rich in calories and healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. 28 grams contain:

• 204 calories
• 23 grams of fat
• 2 grams of protein
• 4 grams of carbohydrates
• 1 gram of sugar
• 3 grams of fiber
• Manganese - 58% of the daily requirement (DP) *
• Thiamine - 22% of DP *
• Honey - 11% of DP *
• Magnesium - 9% of DP *
• Iron - 6% of the BP *
• Vitamin B6 - 5% of DP *

Macadamia nuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which support heart health by lowering total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. They are low in carbohydrates and sugar and moderate in fiber, which makes them especially useful for people with diabetes.

Like most nuts, macadamia nuts are a great source of antioxidants. These are substances that neutralize free radicals - unstable molecules that can cause cell damage and increase the risk of conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.

In addition, macadamia nuts contain very high levels of powerful antioxidant flavonoids that fight inflammation and help lower cholesterol in the human body. Macadamia nuts are rich in tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E that has antioxidant properties that also lower cholesterol levels. These compounds can even protect against cancer and brain disease.

Consumption of macadamia nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Studies have found that eating 8-42 grams of these nuts a day can lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by up to 10%.

Moreover, eating 42-84 grams of macadamia nuts every day can significantly reduce markers of inflammation, such as leukotriene B4. Inflammation is a risk factor for heart disease.

Researchers believe that the heart benefits of macadamia nuts are due to their high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are often associated with better heart health and lower risk of stroke and heart attack.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of interrelated risk factors, including high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, that increase the risk of stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that macadamia nuts can protect against both metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. For example, a recent review linked diets rich in nuts, including macadamia nuts, to lower fasting blood sugar levels. In the diets included in this review, people ate 28-84 grams of nuts a day. The results are significantly improved levels of hemoglobin AC1 (glycated hemoglobin), a marker for long-term blood sugar control. Diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which contain 80% of the fat in macadamia nuts, can help reduce the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.

In general, the intake of nuts is associated with lower blood sugar and body weight in people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

Although nuts are high in calories, they can help with weight loss. This can be partly explained by their content of protein and fiber - nutrients that are known to reduce hunger and promote a feeling of fullness and satiety.

Studies have shown that some of the fat in nuts can remain in the fibrous wall of the nut during digestion. In this way, macadamia nuts and other nuts can provide fewer calories than previously thought.

In a 3-week study of 71 young Japanese women who ate bread daily with 10 grams of macadamia nuts, coconut or cow's butter, they found that the group who took macadamia nuts lost 0.4 kilograms by the end of the study. while those in the other groups remained the same weight.

Australian walnut is also rich in monounsaturated fats, especially omega-7 fat (palmitoleic acid), which can prevent unwanted weight gain.

In a 12-week study, obese mice fed a high-fat diet with large amounts of palmitoleic acid-rich macadamia oil had significantly fewer fat cells than those who did not receive products containing that acid.

It has not been established whether macadamia nuts have the same benefits in humans.

Macadamia nuts contain fiber, which can benefit digestion and overall intestinal health. In most nuts, as in macadamia nuts, soluble fiber can act as a prebiotic, which means it helps feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut, which in turn produce short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, butyrate and propionate, which can reduce inflammation and prevent conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Some evidence suggests that short-chain fatty acids may even reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity.

Studies show that macadamia nuts can offer several additional health benefits:

• Anti-cancer properties

Macadamia nuts contain flavonoids and tocotrienols - plant compounds that studies have found can help fight or kill cancer cells in animals.

• They strengthen the health of the brain

Studies show that tocotrienols can also protect brain cells from conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

• For longevity

Regular intake of macadamia nuts and other nuts can help reduce the risk of premature death.

These potential benefits have not been fully demonstrated. More research on humans is needed.

Use of macadamia nuts in cooking

Due to its close taste with hazelnuts, macadamia nuts are widely used in chocolate desserts, salads or other seafood dishes. Some gourmets believe that in order to reveal the full taste of the nut, it should be consumed with sherry or strong coffee.

Nuts can be found in some supermarkets, but can also be ordered online. They are easily included in most diets. In general, raw nuts are the healthiest to eat. Dried and then baked are a good alternative if you do not have time to bake them yourself, but try to avoid the types that are baked with added fat.

You can have breakfast with whole macadamia nuts, grind and sprinkle on soups and hot dishes or replace croutons in salads.

Macadamia oil is another way to add nuts to the diet. Like peanut butter, it can be spread on bread, crackers and fruit bread or added to oatmeal or yogurt.

Nuts can be soaked and blended into a paste to make non-dairy cheese or milk. This paste can also be used as a base for various desserts.

Macadamia nuts can be stored at room temperature for 1 to 5 months. Ideally in an airtight container. Storing them in the refrigerator will keep them fresh even longer - up to 1 year.

Contraindications to macadamia

Macadamia nuts have no contraindications. Only an allergic reaction is possible in people with individual intolerance to the product. People who are allergic to hazelnuts or peanuts should be careful.

Macadamia can cause severe poisoning in animals, especially in dogs with a rehabilitation period of more than 48 hours.