” From an obese couch potato to a fit and healthy champion figure athlete, fitness writer, personal trainer, and nutrition & wellness specialist, Roni Davis has made it her life’s mission to teach other women how good their bodies are designed to look and feel, how strong they are and how to love the skin they’re in.
”Macadamia Nut Oil - The Other Super Oil
Hardly a day passes that we’re not bombarded with the benefits of coconut oil and by now most of probably already know olive oil is right up there among the powerhouses of oils. But right up there, even outperforming them in a number of ways is one of the biggest superheroes of all: macadamia nut oil and I’m determined to give this little super oil its proper place in the spotlight.
One of the benefits of olive oil is its high content of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and mac nut oil outperforms even olive oil in the MUFA department being 85% monounsaturated. It also contains a high amount of oleic acid, a particular type of monounsaturated fat that can lower your triglyceride levels, says nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden in “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.” Oleic acid also has fantastic regenerative & moisturizing properties, has been shown to reduce inflammation, boost memory power, increase testosterone and reduce symptoms of asthma. It helps to lower LDL levels (bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol). The monounsaturated fatty acids in macadamia nut oil increase the absorption rate of nutrients and fat-soluble vitamins.
Due to mac nut oil’s quantities of magnesium it supports nerve and muscle functions, stabilizes heart rhythm and aids in the overall strength of the body’s bones, tissues and cells.
Macadamia Nut Oil contains one of the highest sources of palmitoleic fatty acids; between 16 to 23%. As our skin ages it rapidly becomes depleted of palmitoleic acid and palmitoleic acid is vital for delaying skin and cell aging. Did you hear that? It’s anti-aging, ladies! It’s also high in linoleic acid which is a wonderful little fatty acid that helps prevent trans epidermal water loss from the skins delicate tissues.
More great benefits of macadamia nut oil are its smoke point and stability. Due to its low polyunsaturated fat content, it can be kept for several years. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated but should be kept in a cool, dark place. It has a high smoke point, making it great for cooking at higher heats. If we cook using an oil with a low smoke point (such as olive oil) we risk denaturing the fat; essentially turning it from a “good” into a “bad” fat.
Hair and Skin Benefits:
Because mac nut oil is high in phytosterols (which are the building blocks of our cell membrane) they have a real affinity with skin and hair and possess great penetration abilities. Phytosterols are also calming and healing which is why the oil is perfect for repairing the skin’s barrier function. Phytosterols are protective, aiding in skin recovery. It’s been successfully used for healing scars, sunburns, minor wounds and other irritations such as itchiness and inflammation. The linoleic fatty acid content in mac nut oil makes it great for a parched, dehydrated skin that has difficulty retaining moisture.
How To Use Macadamia Nut Oil
Besides cooking with mac nut oil you can simply drizzle it wherever you normally would use olive oil. It makes a wonderful salad dressing. A good quality macadamia nut oil (look for cold-pressed and organic) can stand on its own over greens or any other veggie. I also love adding a drizzle to my quinoa. With a nutty, slightly sweet taste it makes a good addition to baked goods. Try scrambling eggs with macadamia oil and cinnamon or adding it to a chicken and cashew stir-fry. The options are endless.
You can look for hair and skin products made with mac nut oil or as I prefer just use plain mac nut oil directly on your hair and skin. This eliminates other potentially unnecessary additives that come in commercial hair and skin products. As we speak, there’s a bottle of cold pressed mac nut oil sitting on the edge of my shower ready to soothe my parched winter skin.
Macadamia nut oil is undoubtedly the unsung hero of healthy fats and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t consider adding this little power house to your diet.
