Question 1

What are the health benefits of Macadamia nuts?

Accepted Answer

Macadamia nuts are loaded with micronutrients, offering plenty of vitamins and minerals in one serving. They are loaded with healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and are a great source of fibre, vitamin B6, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

If you check out their nutrition facts, you’ll find they’re a great low-carb snack, with only 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving (60% of which is fibre), making the net carb count only 1.6 grams per serving. 1 oz. (a serving is approximately 12 kernels) contains 21 grams of fat, beating other nuts like cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, and walnuts.

Macadamia nuts are loaded with nutrients that promote long- and short-term health. Read on to learn how macadamia nuts are good for your health.

#1: Brain Function Support
The composition of macadamia nuts is between 72–76% fat, which explains their buttery full bodied texture. These fats are healthy, monounsaturated fatty acids.
One fatty acid, in particular, helps protect your brain: Palmitoleic acid. It’s an Omega–7 fatty acid — incredibly rare, but incredibly healthy.
Palmitoleic acid is a major component of myelin, the fatty, protective coating around your neurons. This protects your long-term brain health, fending off neurodegenerative diseases and mental diseases.
Macadamia nuts are also rich in copper and thiamine, both of which support brain function. Copper is needed to efficiently absorb and utilize iron, which in turn helps get oxygen to the brain, while thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is essential for converting carbohydrates into energy.
This energy gives your brain the fuel it needs to boost your cognitive function and mood.

#2: Cardiovascular Support
Nuts have long been categorized as a heart-healthy snack. A 2015 meta-analysis study showed regular nut consumption was associated with a 26% decrease in the development of cardiovascular disease.

The monounsaturated fatty acids in macadamia nuts make them particularly beneficial to your heart.

Palmitoleic fatty acids — the same fatty acids that protect your brain — can support a healthy heart. They have been connected to:

Cardiovascular health
Lower triglycerides
Reduced inflammation
Improved blood pressure
Reduced lipid levels

Another monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic fatty acid, contributes to brain health by keeping blood pressure low and decreasing the risk of stroke.
Macadamia seeds are also rich in vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that can balance cholesterol levels and lower the risk of cardiovascular incidents.

#3: Weight Loss Support
Against everything you were taught to believe, high-fat snacks like macadamia nuts can aid weight loss. It’s true that just an ounce of these nuts contains 201 calories, most of which are from healthy fats. So how can such a high-caloric food help you lose weight?

For starters, the dietary fibre in macadamia nuts can help increase satiety by binding to water, making you feel full. Dietary fibre has been shown to increase feelings of satiety aiding in weight loss.

Secondly, healthy fats may help reduce inflammation, one of the biggest contributors to weight gain.

Finally, this high-fat food contains just 1.5 grams of net carbs per serving. Since studies have shown that low-carb diets are more effective than low-fat diets for weight loss, macadamia nuts are one of your best allies.

#4: Promote Disease Prevention
The healthy fats, fibre, and antioxidants in macadamia nuts make them a valuable tool in disease prevention.

Healthy fats such as those in macadamia nuts nourish the nervous system and provide heart health benefits. What’s more, antioxidants in these seeds prevent and reduce cell damage caused by free radicals, thereby helping to prevent various diseases.

#5: Bone Health Support
Tree nuts like macadamia nuts are rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. And it’s micronutrients like these that are hard to come by when you’re eating a dirty keto diet or not getting enough low-carb veggies

This specific combination of minerals isn’t just good for overall health — it’s also been shown to prevent bone demineralization.

#6: Helps Fight Inflammation
Inflammation is linked to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, weight gain, and a host of other diseases. But regular nut consumption is linked to fighting inflammation.
The reason why macadamia nuts help combat inflammation: magnesium. This mineral is essential for optimum bone and teeth health, blood clotting, and sleep regulation.

Who Should Avoid Macadamia Nuts (And Why)?
Macadamia nuts are high in phosphorus, making them a concern for some kidney patients. If you have kidney-related health issues, ask your healthcare provider if you should consume these nuts.

If you’re allergic to other tree nuts, avoid macadamia nuts. Always keep macadamia nuts away from your dog, as they can be toxic to dogs.

Macadamia nuts do not appear to have any negative side effects for pregnant women and those with celiac disease. Even though they are naturally gluten-free, always check the label to make sure they weren’t exposed to gluten during processing.

Question 2

I use Canola oil and Olive oil for general cooking but someone told me about Macadamia oil.  How can I use it and why is it better and healthier?

Accepted Answer

Macadamia oil is a clear, light-yellow liquid that comes from pressing macadamia nuts. It is a pure and unprocessed oil that people can use for deep frying, baking, general cooking.

A person can use macadamia oil as a substitute for other oils.
Macadamia oil is a highly stable oil with a high smoke point of 210 C, it is perfect for deep frying, sautéing, roasting, and grilling.

Its mild, creamy, slightly nutty flavour also makes macadamia oil an excellent choice for baked goods or as an appropriate base for salad dressings and marinades.

Benefits:
Macadamia oil is rich in Monounsaturated fats, Omega 3, Omega 7 (Palmitoleic Acid) and has a ratio of 1:1 Omega 3 to Omega 6.  It is also low in saturated fat and is cholesterol free. It is believed that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 in the typical western diet today stands at more than 10 to 1. Before the widespread use of cheaper seed oils in junk food, the ratio was closer to 3 to 1.

Question 3

Can I use Macadamia oil on my skin?

Accepted Answer

Macadamia oil is an ingredient in many skin care products, but can a person also apply the pure oil directly to the skin.

It is important to test the oil on a small area of the skin first. Although macadamia oil is generally safe, some people may develop a rash after applying it directly to the skin.

People with tree nut allergies should avoid using macadamia oil.

Macadamia oil is the ultimate carrier oil for skincare products. No matter what your age or skin type, oils are a wonderful skin food. When you're young, your skin exudes a luminosity and is nicely plump due to the abundance of naturally occurring oils. As we age, your cell turnover declines and so too does your skin's ability to produce oil.

A topical application of oils is an essential component of age defying skincare. Oils act as a carrier for other key ingredients, as well as improving the function of the lipid barrier, which keeps the skin moist and hydrated.

Did you know? Not all oils are created equal. They have various ratings on the comedogenic scale, which is a measure of how likely oils are to clog your pores.

Comedogenic rating of 0 – this oil does not clog pores.
Comedogenic rating of 1 – slight chance oil will clog pores.
Comedogenic rating of 2 – for most people, the oil will not clog pores. 
Comedogenic rating of 3 – some people will be fine using this oil, but many will break out in pimples or acne due to clogged pores.
Comedogenic rating of 4 – most people will break out with this oil, depending on skin type. 
Comedogenic rating of 5 – virtually guaranteed to make you break out. Very few people can tolerate these oils on the skin.

Some people swear by using nothing but coconut oil, but this oil is highly comedogenic (4 to 5 on the scale). Macadamia oil is fantastic as its extracted from the meat of the nut. It’s a 2 to 3 on the comedogenic scale, so most people find their skin tolerates macadamia well. Not only are these little guys delicious to eat, but skin happily soaks up the beneficial properties of this oil.

The vitamin E present in macadamia oil has many properties that may benefit a person's skin. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage the DNA in a person's skin. Test tube studies suggest that applying vitamin E to the skin may protect against this damage.

BENEFITS OF MACADAMIA OIL FOR SKIN CARE

Other than jojoba oil (which is actually considered a waxy ester as opposed to an oil) Macadamia oil the closest match to the naturally occurring sebum of the skin.
It is a hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic oil.
It contains squalene and oleic acid that assists with cell regeneration, making this oil particularly useful for dry or chapped skin as it softens and moisturises.
It contains Omega 6 linoleic acid which is useful for balancing sebum production in oily skin and creates a natural protective barrier.
The shell in which it is housed and added to the oil is rich in naturally occurring vitamin E.
Oils extracted from macadamias contain Omega 7 or Palmitoleic acid, which is beneficial for wound healing, wounds, scratches and burns.      
It contains phytosterols that assist with itchiness and redness.
It's highly emollient oil, yet light and penetrating that's excellent for dry and mature skins that have a reduced production of natural sebum.
The oil extracted from macadamia has excellent spread ability, lubrication and penetration properties that imparts a smooth non greasy after effect.
This oil also has a slight sunscreen effect. 
Nails: Massage lukewarm oil into your cuticles to keep them nourished and supple
Aromatherapy massage: Add some essential oils to your macadamia nut oil – try lavender or chamomile for a calming effect (always consult your doctor before using aromatherapy oils if you are pregnant or suffer from any medical conditions)

Question 4

So if I can use Mac oil on my skin, can I use it for my hair too?"

Accepted Answer

YES! Many people use pure macadamia oil to condition their hair.

Similarly, to using olive oil, a person can take a small amount of the oil and rub it directly into their hair. It is generally best to let the oil soak into the hair for a short amount of time before rinsing out the excess.

Benefits:
People who use macadamia oil as a hair conditioner claim that it can help:

Strengthen and condition hair
smooth hair
add shine
moisturise the scalp
make hair more manageable

Macadamia oil is generally safe to use in both cooking and on the hair and skin. However, people with nut allergies should avoid using macadamia oil.
Our range of cold pressed and extra virgin macadamia oils are available to buy online.

Question 5

Why is Macadamia oil more environmentally sustainable compared to other commercial vegetable oils like Canola, Soya and Palm oil?"

Accepted Answer

Hexanes are chiefly obtained by refining crude oil. Hexane solvents are used in the formulation of glues for shoes, leather products, and roofing. They are also used to extract cooking oils (such Canola/Safflower, Palm, Corn or Soya oil) from seeds, for cleansing and degreasing a variety of items, and in textile manufacturing.

They are commonly used in food based soybean oil extraction and are potentially present as contaminants in all soy food products in which the technique is used.  The Hexane solvent process uses large quantities of water and the solvent is so highly toxic to the environment it has caused devastating river system pollution and environmental disasters.

The Hexane refining process uses even more water and organic acid to remove gums and free fatty acids, filtering to remove colour, and deodorizing the oil by using steam distillation.  The solvent is very difficult to dispose of and the whole process of extraction uses vast amounts of water resources.

Macadamia nuts contain a high level of natural oil (approximately 75% of the nut is made up of oil) and thus cold pressing using a hydraulic press (also known as the expeller method) is used to squeeze the oil from the nut meat, giving you a natural, healthy product which uses low energy and no water resources.  This means that not only is it healthier for you but it’s totally sustainable, has no negative environmental impact and is earth friendly.

No water or chemicals are needed for processing and the remaining waste cakes made of dry, compressed nuts are biodegradable and are often recycled as compost or used in animal fodder.

Question 6

What does “Cold pressed” mean and why is this such a big deal?

Accepted Answer

“Cold pressed” refers to the production process used to yield the oil directly from the macadamia nuts. Cold-pressed oil is produced at low temperature (may not exceed 49 degrees Celsius) by using hydraulic pressure. This low temperature ensures that the oil is not overheated and this preserves the chemical structure and integrity of the oil molecules, and all the nutrients and antioxidants that are naturally present in the macadamias are left intact. This means you have a highly stable oil packed full of nutrients with a long shelf life (A bottle of Macadamia Oil has a life span of approximately 12 months) In addition “Extra Virgin” or “First Press” refers to the first pressing of the whole nut.  Our NiiceFoods “First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Single Origin” Macadamia Oil is both!

Question 7

What are the typical nutrition facts of Macadamia nuts per 100g?

Accepted Answer

Calories 718
Total Fat 76 g (116% Daily Value)
Saturated fat 12 g (60% Daily Value)
Polyunsaturated fat 1,5 g
Monounsaturated fat 59 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 5 mg 0%
Potassium 368 mg (10% Daily Value)
Total Carbohydrate 14 g (4% Daily Value)
Dietary fibre 9g (36% Daily Value)
Sugar 4,6 g
Protein 8 g - (16% Daily Value)
Vitamin A - 0%
Vitamin C - 2%
Calcium - 8%
Iron - 20%
Vitamin D - 0%
Vitamin B-6 - 15%
Cobalamin - 0%
Magnesium - 32%

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