Health Benefits
Macadamias are a high energy food and contain no cholesterol.
The natural oils in Macadamias contain 78% monounsaturated fats,
the highest of any oil including olive oil. They are also a good
source of protein, calcium, potassium and dietary fibre and are
very low in sodium. The protein component of nuts is low in lysine
and high in arginine.
Oil
The oils in macadamia are: 84% monounsaturated and 3.5%
polyunsaturated +12.5% saturated. The monounsaturated portion
contains oleic fatty acid plus the highest known level of
paimitoleic fatty acid, which is also present in beneficial fish
oils and may be nutritionally significant.
Monounsaturated fatty acids are the "good" fats. They have been
shown in macadamias to significantly reduce blood serum cholesterol
levels, as well as enhancing the protective high-density
lipoproteins and suppressing undesirable low-density
lipoproteins.
Macadamias contain no cholesterol and no trans fatty acids. They
improve the balance between omega6 and omega3 fatty acids. This
facilitates the body's manufacture of essential fatty acids and
eicosanoids (prostaglandins etc.)
Protein
Macadamias contain significant protein comprising essential and
non-essential amino acids. These play an important body building
role in muscle structure, connective tissues and blood plasma
development. Macadamias contain all the essential amino acids with
most of these present at optimum levels. Most of the "simple"
carbohydrates are present as saccharides (sugars). Carbohydrates
are essential for supplying energy to the body.
Macadamias also contain a large range of minerals, such as Iron,
Potassium Phosphorus Magnesium and Calcium. They also contain
significant levels of Zinc copper Selenium. The most significant
vitamins are: 6 Vitamin E: Thiamine (B1) Riboflavin (B2) Niacin,
pantothenic acid (B5) and folate.