Macadamias are considered the world’s finest nut, a delicious snack food that garners high marks for both flavor and crunchy texture. The story doesn’t end there, however.
Medical researchers and food scientists have been studying macadamia nuts. Macadamias are a tree nut and in recent years tree nuts such as hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios, have received attention for their potential in relation to human health.
Nuts, in fact, are an important part of the Mediterranean Diet, a traditional eating pattern that has been recognized as a dietary model for reduction of risk factors for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions. The Mediterranean Dietary Pyramid includes daily consumption of tree nuts such as macadamias.
Macadamia nuts provide a wide range of beneficial compounds. They are a high energy food, full of protein and fiber and loaded with other important nutrients that, in concert, impact favorably on human health.
Antioxidants
Fiber
Phytochemicals
Protein
Minerals
Monounsaturated fats
Vitamins
Macadamias contain natural oils. They are high in heart-friendly monounsaturated fat, which contains oleic fatty acid as well as paimitoleic fatty acid (also present in fish oils). Macadamias come in tops for containing the highest amount of monounsatarated fatty acids in a natural food.
Macadamias have a rich, buttery flavor that makes them unbeatable. They can be eaten raw or roasted, whole or chopped. The nuts are used in different menu items, ranging from macadamia nut coffee, to macadamia nut pesto to macadamia nut butter. Favorite snacks include chocolate covered macadamia nuts or white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.
Macadamia nuts offer a winning combination: delicious flavor and significant nutritional benefits. Truly, eating macadamias for health has never been easier!
Other Beneficial Tree Nuts:
Pecans