Macadamia nuts are another example of a product that, despite being ‘fat’, is extremely valuable. Although they come from Australia, their popularity is also growing in our country. Why? They are very healthy and have a proven beneficial effect on our body.
The most important facts about macadamia nuts
- A Chinese study published in 2006 in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research proved that monounsaturated fatty acids they account for 82,6 percent. macadamia nuts. In this respect, they are even better than the best sources of these beneficial fatty acids (olive oil contains them from 55 to 83 percent). Monounsaturated fatty acids are extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system: they help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Macadamia nuts are one of the few foods that they contain palmitoleic acid. It is a type of monounsaturated fatty acid that can speed up the metabolism of fat and reduce the body’s ability to store it.
- Macadamia nut oil is quickly becoming the favorite fat of chefs around the world. Not only is it very healthy, but according to many, it tastes better. In addition, it has a higher smoke point than olive oil, meaning it can be used at higher temperatures without losing flavor.
- Numerous studies prove the effect of consuming macadamia nuts on improving the blood lipid profile and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. One of the many examples is a study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2008. It compared the effects of two diets with similar amounts of fat, protein and carbohydrates. One group received macadamia nuts as part of the balance sheet, the other group received other sources of fat. After five weeks, both groups were able to enjoy reduced levels of bad LDL cholesterol, but the macadamia group had significantly better results for both total and LDL cholesterol levels.
- Like other nuts, macadamia nuts contain a lot of fiber: 100 g contains 8 g of fiber. Thanks to this, their regular consumption improves intestinal peristalsis and facilitates defecation.
- Research published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health proves macadamia nuts are a source of the important mineralsincluding magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, chromium, manganese, and zinc.
- Despite all its health benefits, macadamia nuts are very much caloric. They have one of the highest fat calories of any nut. So if we want to include them in the diet, we should slightly modify the current food.
Macadamia nuts better than others?
Macadamia nuts are indeed very valuable, they contain beneficial fats, a lot of fiber, and minerals. However, we do not have to reach for distant products, ‘our’ nuts also have a similar value. Studies have shown that walnuts have a similar effect when it comes to improving the lipid profile. Therefore, with a clear conscience, we can choose various nuts, macadamia nuts themselves are not an essential component of our diet, but they can be a nice change.
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