(TRFW News) The macadamia tree is indigenous to Australia where the aboriginal tribes have been using the nut for centuries. Recently though, after a surge in its popularity, the nut is also now grown in Hawaii and is used throughout the world in cooking, skin care, and medicine. The nut’s oil is free from carbohydrates and is an extremely rich source of antioxidants. (1) One of the healthiest oils out there, it definitely deserves a place in your diet!
A good source of monounsaturated fats, macadamia nut oil is known to help stabilize blood cholesterol for those who consume it regularly. (2) They are one of the ‘powerhouse’ nuts that contain many crucial nutrients, which include excellent sources of vitamin B1, magnesium, and manganese. (3)
Using oil for smoke point cooking
You may have heard that choosing certain types of oils is important when it comes to cooking. It may be confusing to determine which oils are best to choose, but when we better understand the types of oils that are available and which temperatures they are most compatible with, the decision making process becomes much easier.
Smoke point is when oil is heated to very high temperatures, which puts them close to burning and thus breaks down the fat oils, causing nutrition and flavor to diminish. Sometimes the chemical components of the oils change and cause harm to health. (4) So, choosing the correct oil can help keep you healthy when it comes to cooking.
Macadamia nut oil has a high smoke point
Excellent to use as a sauté, pan fry, sear, deep fry, stir fry, grill, broil, or baking, macadamia nut oil has a high smoke point reaching to about 410 degrees! (1,4) In one oxidative test, it trumps rice bran oil, walnut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and hazelnut oil. It’s considered to be highly shelf-stable and resistant to heat-induced oxidation. (5)
This nut oil has a high shelf life, reaching about 2 years, and contains up to 85% monounsaturated fats, making it even healthier. (4) It also has the lowest omega-6 fatty acid content of all cooking oils. (5)
Provides excellent antioxidative support
In one study, researchers found that macadamia nut oil contains plenty of antioxidants, which provides the body with antioxidative support. The oil was also found to be a rich source of squalane, a naturally occurring antioxidant present in human skin surface lipids, which helps protect people from sun-induced lipid peroxidation. (5)
Wait, I thought olive oil was the best
Olive oil has been used in many types of cooking, but what’s confusing with olive oil is that there are different types such as extra virgin, virgin, or light and that puts them in different categories for smoke point cooking. Generally, extra virgin olive oil is best for non-cooking use. (4)
The buttery flavor of macadamia nut oil makes it the ideal addition to sauces and is a fantastic butter substitute in no-cook cakes, which makes it a favorite on the paleo scene. There are plenty of raw fudge recipes that call for this tasty oil too! For those without a sweet tooth, macadamia nut oil is also excellent added to homemade cream cheeses, adding a rich depth. It also makes for a tasty salad dressing.
Sources for this article include:
(1) www.mac-nut-oil.com
(2) jn.nutrition.org
(3) articles.mercola.com
(4) www.naturalnews.com
(5) www.marksdailyapple.com
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