Macadamia Nuts: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Rajeev Singh

Introduction

You might have eaten and heard about various kinds of nuts in your life, but have you heard of the macadamia nut? Macadamia nut is a lesser-known nut. It is a native of Australia, particularly the New South Wales and Queensland states. Out of the four species of macadamia, the two non-toxic ones used for consumption are Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla and they belong to the family Poaceae. Along with various micro and macronutrients, macadamia nuts contain high amounts of unsaturated fats which are considered good for health. It also contains palmitoleic acid which is rarely found in other foods. Other than macadamia, only two other foods (durian and sea buckthorn) contain palmitoleic acid.¹ Let’s find out more health benefits of macadamia nut.  

Nutritional Value of Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts contain a total energy of 714 kcal in every 100g.² It possesses the following nutrients: 

• Carbohydrates: 14.29g
• Fiber: 7.1g
• Protein: 7.14g
• Fats: 75g
• Sugars: 3.57g
• Calcium: 86mg
• Potassium: 371mg
• Iron: 3.57mg
• Fatty acids: 12.5g

Properties of Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts might possess the following properties: 

• It might act as an anti-inflammatory 
• It might lower cholesterol levels 
• It might lower blood glucose. 
• It might help in skin lightening 
• It might help in blood clot formation. 
• It might safeguard the heart. 
• It might help in weight management.¹ 

Also Read: Pecans: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Rajeev Singh

Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts for Overall Health:

The nutrient profile of macadamia contains high amounts of unsaturated fats and various bioactive compounds that might act against certain diseases. Some of the potential uses of macadamia nuts are as follows: 

1. Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts for Diabetes

Macadamia nuts might be helpful against diabetes. Animal studies have shown that palmitoleic acid present in macadamia nuts might increase the insulin sensitivity of cells. It might affect the activity of certain proteins (MCP-1 and TNF-α) which are responsible for communicating with other cells. Thus, macadamia nuts might be affecting glucose production, transportation, and storage. Ultimately, these processes might result in a lowering of blood glucose levels. However, more studies are required to confirm these activities in humans. Kindly consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and do not self-medicate.¹ 

2. Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts for Weight Management

Macadamia nuts might be helpful for weight management and might alter the expression of certain genes which gives a satisfying feel during food intake. Thus, it might decrease the appetite and may help in weight management. It might also help in reducing the body mass index (the ratio of fat to muscle calculated according to individual height and weight). Therefore, macadamia nuts might help in weight management.¹ If you are obese please consult a proper nutritionist for guidance in weight management.  

3. Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts for the Heart

Macadamia nuts might be good for the heart. It was seen that macadamia nuts which are enriched with palmitoleic acid might lower blood cholesterol levels. It might help in decreasing the LDL (low-density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol), triglycerides, and fibrinogen and might increase the levels of HDL (high-density lipoproteins or good cholesterol). These effects might be responsible for decreasing the risk factors of heart disease. Therefore, it might help in the maintenance of heart health.¹ If you are having any heart problems consult your doctor and get proper medication. Do not self-medicate.  

4. Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts for Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Macadamia nuts contain a high amount of fats, but these are monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). It has been seen that MUFAs, vitamin E, and phenolic compounds might help in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, it might be beneficial against chronic diseases caused due to oxidative stress and inflammation. However, more research is required to prove these potential uses of macadamia nuts.³   

5. Other Potential Uses of Macadamia Nuts

• Blood clots: Palmitoleic acid present in macadamia nuts is a well-known omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid and is used as a supplement sometimes. It might be useful against blood clots that may be the cause of strokes. Thus, it may be helpful as an antithrombotic agent (checks blood clot formation).¹ 

• Skin lightening: Macadamia nuts might be helpful for the skin and may act as a skin cleanser. It might also help in lightening the skin by interfering with the process of formation of melanin (a pigment responsible for a darker tinge of skin).¹  

Though there are studies that show the potential uses of macadamia nuts in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of macadamia nuts on human health.  

In my experience, macadamia nut oil might be a fantastic addition in your diet for healthy and beautiful skin. It may be great for your skin because it contains palmitoleic acid. This acid might help protect your cells, especially in sun-exposed skin. The macadamia oil may also be an excellent moisturiser. That’s why it’s used in many cosmetic products like lipsticks, skin conditioners, hair care, and others!

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Also Read: Anjeer: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

How to Use Macadamia Nuts?

Different parts of macadamia nuts can be used for various purposes. For food purposes, macadamia nuts can be utilised in the following ways: 

• The kernels can be oil-roasted or dry-roasted  
• The nuts are used as ingredients for the preparation of ice creams and baked goods. 
• Macadamia nut oil is also used for cooking and is popularly used as a frying oil.³ 

It is used in other industries too: 

• It can be used for the preparation of cosmetics such as soaps, creams, skincare products, and shampoos. 
• Water purification 
• Plastic manufacturing 
• In the sandblasting process, as a substitute for sand.³ 

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking Macadamia nuts in large quantities or any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

As per my observations, adding macadamia nuts to your snack recipes might just give your brain the much needed boost. One of the possible benefits of macadamia nuts is their contribution to normal brain function. While the specific mechanisms are not fully understood, enjoying macadamia nuts as part of a balanced diet may help support your brain health and overall cognitive function.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Side Effects of Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are not as widely consumed as other nuts. However, there have been reports of allergies caused by them. It was observed in various studies that macadamia nuts might cause allergies in some individuals. Therefore, you should ensure that you are not allergic to macadamia nuts before eating them.⁴ 

Also Read: Munakka: Benefits, Side Effects, Precautions and More!

Precautions to Take with Macadamia Nuts

You should be cautious about consuming macadamia nuts as they might cause allergies in susceptible individuals. Therefore, you should ensure that you are not allergic to these nuts before eating them. There is insufficient data regarding the effect of macadamia nuts on pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, and elderly individuals. Therefore, kindly consult a doctor before eating them.⁴ 

Interactions with Other Drugs

Macadamia nuts might interact with certain drugs and can alter their activity. However, such effects need to be explored by further research. Therefore, kindly consult a doctor and make sure that it is completely safe for you to consume macadamia nuts. Especially, if you are undergoing any treatment and are on medication for the same. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References:

1. Hu W, Fitzgerald M, Topp B, Alam M, O’Hare TJ. A review of biological functions, health benefits, and possible de novo biosynthetic pathway of palmitoleic acid in macadamia nuts. J Funct Foods [Internet]. 2019;62(August):103520. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.103520 

2. Wood LG, Garg ML. Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia and tetraphylla) and their Use in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects. In: Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention [Internet]. Elsevier; 2011. p. 717–25. Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780123756886100854 

3. Vanga SK, Raghavan V. Processing effects on tree nut allergens: A review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr [Internet]. 2017 Nov 22;57(17):3794–806. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2016.1175415 

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