Macadamia nuts come from the fruit of a large evergreen tree native to eastern Australia. Thousands of years before European settlement, the aborigines of Australia gathered the native nuts from rainforest floors and consumed them as snacks. Other major producing countries are South Africa and USA (Hawaii).
Health benefits:
- In general nuts contain many good fats and unsaturated fats.. The macadamia contains many of these unsaturated fats and some studies show that this type of nut helps to reduce blood cholesterol.
- Macadamia nuts have sweet taste and are rich source of energy. 100 g of nuts provide about 718 calorie/100 g, which is one of the highest calorific values among nuts.
- The nuts are rich source of mono-unsaturated fatty.
- Macadamias are an excellent source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc.
- Also rich in many important B-complex vitamins that are vital for metabolic functions.
Uses:
- Macadamia nuts are usually eaten on their own by roasting them slightly.
- Roasted and crushed nuts are sprinkled over desserts, sweets, salads and cereals. They are also used in the preparation of muffins, cakes and biscuits.
- Use it as butter, oil or simply munch on a handful-macadamia nuts will fill with their flavor and give the body the nutrients it requires.
Nutritional information per 100 gr of Macadamia’s
- Energy: 718 kcal
- Protein: 8 g
- Total fat: 76 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Monounsaturated fat: 60 g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Calcium: 70 mg
- Iron: 2.65 mg
- Selenium: 11.7 mcg
- Phosporus: 198 mg
- Magnesium: 118 mg
- Sodium: 4mg
- Potassium: 363 mg
- Vitamin A: 0 IU
- Vitamin B6: 0.36 mg
- Vitamin C: 0.7 MG
- Vitamin E: 0.57 mg
- Vitamin K: 0 mcg