While macadamia nuts are high in good fats, they are also high in calories, meaning that their high consumption carries a risk of gaining weight. Half a cup of these nuts contains about 475 calories, which may constitute a meal for some people. Macadamia nuts are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Researchers saw no negative side effects when eating macadamia nuts and, according to Curb, these results were similar to those of a previous study he conducted in which volunteers ate a diet containing large quantities of ground macadamia nuts for a month.
Native to Australia, macadamia trees are now cultivated in several locations around the world, including Brazil, Costa Rica, Hawaii and New Zealand. That means the high-fat content of macadamia nuts may help combat hunger better than a similarly-sized snack. Previous research published in The Journal of Nutrition found that adding 1.5 ounces of macadamia nuts to a diet reduced total cholesterol by nearly 10 percent and LDL cholesterol by nearly 9 percent in a group of people with mildly high cholesterol in just five weeks. Almonds have one of the highest levels of fiber of all nuts, with nearly 4 g per 1-ounce serving, according to the USDA.
Macadamia nuts are also a type of tree nut, meaning they're one of the most common allergies people suffer from, according to Verywell Health. A person should look at the ingredients and choose types that contain only nuts and no added sugar, salt or oil. According to Fitday, just one ounce of walnut contains about 200 calories, so it can be easy to accidentally consume quite a few calories in one sitting without even realizing it, especially since the serving size is so small. Another long-term study in people from Sweden found that the consumption of nuts may be linked to a lower risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
When it comes to the wide variety of snacks on the market, macadamia nuts aren't the worst option to get you up in the afternoon. For some people with severe allergies, even touching foods that are contaminated with nuts or breathing airborne particles can cause a reaction, so it's best to avoid them completely in the company of people with food allergies (via Medical News Today). Tocotrienols and flavonoids are present in nuts, such as macadamias, and research is emerging on these antioxidants that support their role in fighting cancer cells. In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) reports that, in a 12-year study of more than 22,000 doctors in the Physicians Health Study, men whose diets contained large amounts of nuts had a lower risk of dying from heart disease.
Some research suggests that MUFAs, such as those found in macadamia nuts, may help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome or reduce its effects in people who already have it. An ounce of macadamia nuts contains 20.9 grams of fat per ounce, and 88% of the calories come from fat, according to the U. Elemental composition and chemical characteristics of five edible nuts (almond, Brazil, walnut, macadamia and walnut) consumed in Southern Africa.
