Macadamia is called the king of nuts because it is the most expensive and high-calorie. The macadamia tree grows in places with tropical and subtropical climates (Australia, Brazil, America, South Africa). The high price of the nut is due to the fact that collecting and processing the product is a labor-intensive process - the shell is hard, and the kernels are quite difficult to separate. The nutritional composition of the nut is very diverse, which makes it beneficial for women, men and children.
Appearance and taste
A ripe nut has a diameter of 1-2 cm and a flattened shape. The shell is hard and brown. The peeled nut is smooth, milky in color, and slightly shiny. The pulp is fatty and easy to chew.
The taste of macadamia nut is similar to the sweetish taste of butter, without bitterness. The smell is almost undetectable, reminiscent of the aroma of hazelnuts.
The photo below shows what a nut looks like.
Exotics from Australia
Macadamia - lat. macadamia is a nut-bearing evergreen plant that can reach a height of 25 m. The homeland of the tree-like plant is Australia, where for many centuries it served as a valuable source of food for the aborigines and was revered as a sacred fruit. The fruits have other names: boomera, mullimbimbi, kindal-kindal. In European countries, the walnut is often called Royal.
There are 5 species of tree growing in Australia, but only 2 of them have commercial value and are edible: whole-leaved, three-leaved. In recent years, significant areas of hazel trees have appeared in Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, China, and the USA. The main importer - 60% - is not the homeland of macadamia, namely Hawaii.
Nutritional and energy value
Nutritional value of macadamia per 100 grams:
- proteins - 8 g;
- fats - 76 g;
- carbohydrates - 10 g.
The calorie content of the product is quite high - 718 calories per 100 g.
Nuts have a rich chemical composition. The content of vitamins and minerals per 100 grams is described in the table:
| Vitamins | Minerals |
|
|
Macadamia nuts are 80% monounsaturated fatty acids, such as:
- oleic;
- palmitoleic;
- palmitic;
- stearic;
- arachidonic;
- linoleic;
- myristic.
Raw nuts are healthier than roasted ones.
Contraindications
Kindal is contraindicated for people allergic to this nut. You should not use it if you have diseases: liver, pancreas (pancreatitis), gout.
If you have diabetes, gout, or obesity, the possibility of consuming this Australian delicacy should be discussed with your doctor.
Even in the absence of contraindications, you should not eat more than one hundred grams of quincean during the day, since its uncontrolled consumption leads to rapid weight gain. Those who plan to lose weight are recommended to eat no more than 15-20 nuts per day, replacing flour dishes and foods containing trans fats with them.
Beneficial properties of macadamia
Thanks to its rich composition, macadamia has a positive effect on the condition of the whole body. The medicinal properties of the product are reflected in the table:
| Beneficial features | Description |
| Heals the heart | Thanks to the content of monounsaturated fatty acids, arteries remain healthy for a long time, cholesterol levels and the risk of ischemia are reduced. American scientists have conducted research and proven that regular consumption of nuts improves heart performance. |
| Supports immunity | The flavonoids contained in the nut, after entering the body, are converted into antioxidants, which prevent the penetration of toxins into the blood and contribute to the destruction of free radicals, reducing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases. Nuts contain phenolic acids, flavonoids and stilbenes, which prevent the development of cancer tumors |
| Helps reduce weight | Healthy fats and dietary fiber help reduce appetite, while palmitoleic acid increases fat metabolism. Due to this, the weight gradually decreases. At the same time, the nut provides the body with all the necessary nutrients. |
| Normalizes intestinal microflora | Macadamia contains soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps remove toxins from the intestines and improves its microflora. Thanks to complex carbohydrates (lignans, hemicellulose) you can get rid of digestive problems |
| Strengthens bones | The nut contains phosphorus, manganese and magnesium, which are necessary for the normal condition of bones and teeth. Calcium promotes the formation of bone tissue, and manganese is an integral part of bone cartilage. With regular use of these microelements, the skeletal system will remain strong even in old age. |
| Improves brain and nervous system activity | Copper, vitamin B1, magnesium, manganese strengthen neurons that are responsible for the flow of nerve impulses to the brain. Oleic acid protects nerve cells in the brain; Omega 9 improves mood, develops memory and prevents the development of neurological problems |
| Reduces chronic inflammation and arthritis symptoms | Macadamia oil reduces the symptoms of diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis). Omega-3 helps reduce rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages |
Macadamia is a fatty nut, so it is recommended to consume it sparingly. The daily norm for an adult is 40-50 g (8-10 peeled nuts).
For women
Regular consumption of macadamia improves complexion and reduces excess oily skin.
Macadamia oil can be used in cosmetology in its pure form or added to face and hair masks, lubricate lips and eyelids, and used for wraps.
The product has the following beneficial properties:
- smoothes wrinkles;
- reduces scars;
- nourishes dry hair and skin;
- Helps strengthen hair follicles.
Pregnant women are allowed to eat nuts, but not more than 4 pieces per day. This amount will be enough to replenish the body with useful substances. Particularly important is arginine, which is essential for the developing fetus. A large amount of the product eaten can cause allergies.
Macadamia, despite its high calorie content, is included in the diet due to its antioxidant properties. When consuming nuts, the regulation of fat metabolism improves and weight decreases.
For men
The nut also benefits the male body:
- helps normalize the functioning of the genitourinary system;
- prevents inflammation of the prostate gland;
- increases potency;
- improves sperm quality.
For children
Macadamia is recommended to be given to children from 3 years of age. This product:
- strengthens the immune system, which helps reduce the number of colds;
- fights parasites;
- strengthens bones and teeth.
If your child does not like nuts, crushed macadamia nuts can be added to salads or desserts.
Harm
It is immediately worth noting that the benefits of the Australian nut far outweigh the possible harm. The product should be used with extreme caution by people who suffer from food allergies. Skin rashes and itching are the first symptoms of an allergic reaction. Also, nuts can sometimes cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas.
People who have diseases of the digestive system should avoid fruits. It should not be given to children under 3 years of age, since babies do not have the necessary enzymes to digest and absorb it.
Despite their high cost, Australian nuts are used in various ways. They are eaten, used to treat ailments, and women have fallen in love with natural remedies based on macadamia oil.
Macadamia oil
This is a cold-pressed oil that contains 844 calories per 100 g. Accordingly, 1 tablespoon contains 145 kcal, and a teaspoon contains 40 kcal.
The oil can be used as a dressing in various salads and sauces.
The beneficial qualities of the product are preserved even when heated, so it can be used for frying, stewing and baking.
Regular consumption of oil helps:
- normalization of heart rhythm;
- increasing bone strength;
- reduction of inflammatory processes;
- restoration of joint mobility.
Valuable fruits
Macadamia has become popular all over the world thanks to its spherical fruits. Small in diameter - about 2 cm, they have unique taste properties, with a delicate aftertaste of buttercream and the aroma of vanilla caramel.
The fruits of the tree are covered with a greenish peel, and from a distance they resemble a small lime. The nut has an incredibly hard shell with a milky white kernel. It is difficult to crack the shell; for industrial purposes, special devices are used for this.
Despite the high price, about $30 per kilogram, the nut is in great demand all over the world. Such a high price is due to the fact that the growing area is extremely limited, and a large amount of manual labor is used during assembly and processing. In addition, macadamia trees are susceptible to attack by a large number of pests, and they bear fruit only from the age of 10.
Interesting! More recently, the value of macadamia was estimated at hundreds of dollars per kilogram, since 20-30 years ago the nut was entirely collected and processed by hand, and only the invention of assistant machines reduced their price.
Walnut shells are also used - “firewood” is made from it to kindle fireplaces, and in folk medicine a tincture is used to treat inflammation of the joints.
How to use it correctly
Australian nuts best reveal their positive properties when consumed raw. Roasted fruits may lose some of their beneficial properties. Like other nuts, macadamia nuts are recommended to be soaked in water for several hours. This procedure helps remove substances from the nuclei that cause bloating and gas formation.
How to use it correctly
Macadamia nuts have a pleasant creamy taste, a bit like hazelnuts or Brazil nuts. It is acceptable if the fruit tastes like chocolate, spices or vanilla. Macadamia nuts can be eaten as a separate dish or snack, or added to desserts and baked goods. Some people prefer to flavor meat and fish with nuts. The kernels go well with vegetable and green salads.
Lovers of unusual tastes add fruits to red and white wine, cheeses and coffee. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the composition of the nuts. It may contain sugar and vanilla. This means that the macadamia may have been boiled in sugar syrup. It is best to purchase fruits without seasonings.
Benefit
Macadamia provides the following benefits for weight loss:
- During a low-calorie diet, a lack of vitamins and mineral components often occurs. Nuts can be eaten between meals to get nutrients.
- Coarse vegetable fiber in the product satisfies hunger for 2 hours. When passing through the digestive tract, dietary fiber absorbs excess liquid and increases in size. A compensatory reaction of the intestines occurs - the peristalsis of smooth muscles increases, due to which the food lump is more quickly digested and excreted from the body. Coarse fiber cleanses the intestines of toxins, excess fluid and toxic compounds.
- Palmitic acid improves lipid metabolism and helps destroy excess deposits of visceral and subcutaneous fat.
- Active plant components improve metabolism, stabilize hormonal balance, and normalize psycho-emotional state. As a result, the risk of developing depression decreases, physical activity increases, and the body's resistance to stress increases.
- Macadamia has a diuretic effect on the body, due to which excess fluid is removed from the body. After this, there is a decrease in swelling of the lower extremities and face, bags under the eyes are reduced and kidney function is normalized.
Attention!
Due to the pronounced diuretic effect of nuts, dehydration may occur. To prevent the development of negative consequences, you will need to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day.
Role in weight loss
Due to the fact that macadamia nuts are high in fat and calorie content, consuming the product for weight loss is not rational.
Australian fruits will be useful when it comes to the overall health of the body. With a healthy diet and regular exercise, macadamia nuts can help you lose weight by improving your metabolism and fat metabolism. Fruits remove heavy metals, toxins and excess cholesterol from the body.
Role in weight loss
The result can be improved if you eat sweet Australian nuts instead of flour and high-calorie desserts. Moreover, according to the observations of lovers of healthy foods, fruits reduce cravings for sweets. To ensure that the use of macadamia does not harm the body, you should not eat more than 5-10 kernels per day. Otherwise, all the positive qualities of the product will not be fully revealed.
How to open
Australian nuts have a very strong shell. After the kernels ripen, it cracks and the fruits fall to the ground. To open the macadamia, you need to get rid of the tough shell. It is easiest to crack nuts that have been chilled in the freezer for about 2 hours.
How to open
In large productions, the fruits are usually additionally cut to make the cleaning process easier for customers. Most often, the package of nuts contains a special “key” for opening the shell. It is a T-shaped plastic or metal device. If such a knife is not available, you can use improvised means.
You should hold the nut between the pliers and hit it with a hammer or heavy object. After the shell cracks, it is necessary to remove the edible core. Even though shelled macadamia nuts are difficult to open, these nuts will provide more benefits than pre-shelled ones.
Where to buy king nuts?
Recently, macadamia nuts can often be seen on the shelves of any large supermarkets. They are usually packaged in plastic containers and sold in 100-200 g quantities. Most often, Australian fruits are found in specialized health food stores or in online stores.
It is preferable to purchase nuts in vacuum packaging, but if this is not possible, you need to carefully inspect the product. The shell should have a uniform shade, without any mold or dark spots. The smell of fresh fruits is sweetish and nutty. The most important thing is to shake the Australian nut. If the kernel knocks on the walls of the shell, the fruit has dried out and spoiled.
When buying king nuts, you should pay attention to the expiration date, as dishonest sellers can pass off rancid fruits as fresh. The price of high-quality macadamia kernels varies from 1,700 to 2,500 thousand rubles. depending on the region of sale and type of product.
Should it be fried?
Australian macadamia nuts do not require toasting. On the contrary, all the beneficial properties of the product are most fully revealed when the fruit is consumed raw. However, some people find roasted nuts tastier and prefer to cook them.
To preserve maximum benefits, macadamia nuts should be roasted in the oven at low temperature (about 110°C) for 10 minutes. First you need to cover the baking sheet with parchment or foil, and after finishing the cooking process, the nuts must be immediately transferred to another container. This is done to ensure that the kernels do not burn out on a hot baking sheet.
Usage rate
How much can you eat to get only the benefits of king nuts and not exceed your daily intake?
You should eat no more than 50-60 grams of nuts per day, but if you are overweight, then no more than 20 g, since high calorie content can lead to weight gain. The most useful are raw kernels, but if you dry them in the oven for 4-6 minutes, they will dry out a little and darken.
Macadamia nuts can be eaten as an independent product, but they go well with seafood in salads, or are used in desserts: candies, chocolate or cakes.
There are 18 types of edible nuts in the world, and the macadamia nut is at the top of the nut pedestal. It is not for nothing that macadamia nut is the leader in the content of useful substances, because just 50 g of nuts eaten 2-3 times a week will not only improve your mood, but also improve your body’s health.
