10 Benefits of Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts come from the macadamia tree, which is indigenous to Australia. The tree has since been exported and is now grown commercially in other locations where the climate allows it.
The nuts it produces are popular in healthy-living diets, while the nuts can also be pressed to produce an oil. The oil is often used in cosmetics and natural remedies.
Macadamia nuts are packed full of healthy fats. Although high in calories, they are still popular in healthy-living diets. They also contain various compounds that are thought to be able to benefit us in various ways. Here is a look at some of the ways in which macadamia nuts are beneficial to us.
Benefit #1: Healthy Digestive System
We don’t eat just for enjoyment, even though a lot of food is irresistible. We eat because we need to take on nutrients that help our bodies to repair and grow. We eat because we need energy, and our organs and other body parts need a constant flow of supplies. With that in mind, it makes sense that we should be able to absorb as much nutrition from our food as we can.
Macadamia nuts contain insoluble and soluble fiber. Fiber is well known for its ability to aid the digestive system, while it can also help the body in removing toxins from the system. They are also a good source of copper, which can also help promote a healthy digestive system.
Benefit #2: Helps with Weight Loss
Sticking to a weight loss diet can be very difficult. They tend to be uninspiring and contain foods that don’t really appeal to us. There’s also the simple matter of hunger and it can be very difficult to say no when you have an empty stomach. There are ways to make it easier, though, and including macadamia nuts is one of them.
Macadamia nuts are high in fiber and this helps to keep us full for longer. They are high in calories, though, but just a few with breakfast can help prevent you from eating too much during the day. While it is also true that they are high in fat, the fat content is the healthy type.
Benefit #3: Healthy Heart
It is no secret that it is important to keep our heart in good working order. We cannot survive without it and should our heart fall sick, then we will also fall sick. There are steps that we can take to ensure our heart remains in good condition and eating healthily is one of them.
Macadamia nuts are high in monounsaturated fatty acids. These compounds help to prevent platelets from sticking together in a way that could otherwise cause clots to form in the blood. Macadamia nuts have also shown that they are able to reduce blood pressure, further helping to keep the heart in good shape.
Benefit #4: Healthy Skeleton
If you wish to remain active and mobile then it is a very good idea to take good care of your skeleton. Without a healthy skeleton we wouldn’t have the physical support we need to move around freely. As we get older, though, it is not uncommon for our skeletons to become weaker.
Macadamia nuts contain plenty of calcium, which is well known as being important in maintaining a healthy skeleton. They also contain potassium and magnesium that help to prevent the demineralization of bone. There’s more because macadamia nuts also contain manganese, a factor that helps to prevent bone disease.
Benefit #5: Healthy Brain
Our brain is also essential to us. We would die without it and if the brain starts to slow down, our mental abilities also start to slow down. Unfortunately, there are some terrible brain diseases that tend to affect people as they grow older. However, a healthy diet may be able to prevent the onset of these diseases.
Macadamia nuts are a very good source of various vitamins and minerals that help to keep our neurotransmitters healthy and well. This helps to ensure that we maintain healthy brain function well into our old age. What’s more is that macadamia nuts can help to keep blood pressure down, helping to prevent strokes.
Benefit #6: Helps Diabetics
People that live with diabetes often have to make considerable adjustments to their lifestyle. Failing to do so can be dangerous and can also bring on various unwelcome symptoms. It is important that diabetics keep to a strict diet, although macadamia nuts can be included in this diet.
Studies have shown that macadamia nuts are able to help with glycemic control. The nuts contain various compounds that are able to help with the regulation of the levels of sugar in the blood. What’s more is that they also help to add something a little more interesting to what could otherwise be a very dull diet.
Benefit #7: Healthy Skin
Clear and healthy skin is very important to a lot of people. It is not uncommon for people to use a lot of lotions to try and keep their skin beautiful, while many will also use cosmetics to try and keep their skin looking as beautiful as possible. In addition to lotions and cosmetics, you could also try considering some more natural options.
Macadamia nuts contain palmitoleic acid, which helps to keep the skin hydrated. It also helps to keep cell membranes healthy and also helps the skin to heal. It is thought that rubbing some macadamia oil into the skin can help reduce signs of ageing such as age spots and wrinkles.
Benefit #8: Healthy Fats
Fats are usually given a bad name in healthy-living circles. They are often blamed for a lot of serious conditions, and much of the time their reputation is well deserved. Not all fats are bad, though, and we need to have some fats in our diet to help with numerous different body functions.
Macadamia nuts actually contain quite a lot of fat. Indeed, they are made up of around 75% fat. These are all good fats, though, and getting plenty of macadamia nuts in your diet will help you to maintain a healthy lipid profile. What’s more is that it also helps to increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol which, in turn, helps to reduce levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Benefit #9: Metabolic Boost
The metabolism is the overall process of turning food into the building blocks and energy that we need to survive. Different people have different rates of metabolism and this means that we tend to have different natural energy levels than others. While some of us prefer a more sedate pace of life, others like to be on the go all the time.
If you would like a bit of a boost, then macadamia nuts could be just what you need. They are thought to be able to increase the metabolism of fats, giving you a boost in energy. This could also help you to shift those extra pounds you have been trying hard to lose.
Benefit #10: Healthy Hair
People often tend to spend a long time fussing over their hair. It helps to have your hair looking as good as possible but this is usually easier said than done. Maintaining a healthy head of hair can be a nightmare for some people, but macadamia nuts may be able to help.
The palmitoleic acid found in macadamia nuts is thought to be able to strengthen the roots of hair, as well as treating hair when it is dry. It is also thought to be able to hydrate the hair and also help to manage fizzy hair. To take advantage of these benefits, you should massage some macadamia oil well into your hair.
