Health Benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil

The popularity of macadamia nut oil stems from the fact that it has a high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, even more than that in olive oil! There are two types of fats - the saturated and unsaturated fats. Of the latter, there are two varieties again. One is the monounsaturated fats and the other is the polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are good for health as they lower the amount of bad cholesterol or low density lipids (LDL) while maintaining the levels of good cholesterol or high density lipids (HDL) in the body. Organic macadamia nut oil is hard to find. However, those that are generally found on the market are 80 - 85% monounsaturated fats.

Macadamia nut oil nutrition value lies in the fact that it maintains the optimum level of cholesterol in the body and reduces the risk of heart diseases. Macadamia nut oil is rich in oleic acid, the main fatty acid in olive oil that contributes to its healthy properties. Besides this, macadamia nut oil has linoleic acid, linolenic acid, Omega-3 essential fatty acid, Omega-6 fatty acid and also palmitoleic acid. All these pushes the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids a few points higher in macadamia nut oil than in olive oil. Macadamia nut oil health benefits does not end here. The oleic acid in macadamia nut oil has anti-inflammatory properties that makes it effective in fighting against chronic diseases. Besides the monounsaturated fatty acids, macadamia oil is also a rich source of calcium, vitamin B complex and minerals like phosphorus and iron.

Source - buzzle.com