Showing posts with label mediterranean diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mediterranean diet. Show all posts
Lower Cholesterol Diet
american heart association,
cholesterol,
ketogenic diet,
macadamia nut oil,
macadamia nuts,
mediterranean diet,
monounsaturated fatty acid,
proteaceae
Macadamia Nuts in the Diet Lower Cholesterol
by E. Farnworth
October 2001 No.134
How many times have you said, "nuts to the diet." Well now perhaps it should be "nuts in the diet." It seems that macadamia nuts may be a good addition to the daily diet, particularly if you want to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Nuts are generally high in fat which is usually bad. But it all depends on the type of fat. Like olives, macadamia nuts contain high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids have been shown in many studies to reduce levels of blood cholesterol. Attention was directed towards monounsaturated fatty acids when it was observed that people eating a "Mediterranean diet" had lower than expected rates of cardio-vascular disease.
Macadamia nuts like all non-animal foods contain no cholesterol. But they are remarkable in the fact that their fat contains over 86% monounsaturated fatty acids. The average macadamia nut will also add about 18 calories to your diet.
Oil from the macadamia nut is used in the cosmetic industry because of similarities between the nut oil and human skin. Macadamia nuts grow best on volcanic soil in tropical climates and problems related to the harvest of the nuts affects their cost.
Because of the high calorie content of the nuts, the researchers warned that the macadamia nuts should be used as a substitute for sources of saturated fats in the diet. Simply eating macadamia nuts on top of a normal diet would only add extra calories and probably negate any benefits.
Eating healthy does not mean eating boring, low fat tasteless food. Careful planning, knowing what is in the food we eat and how these nutrients affect our metabolism allow us to eat and enjoy even exotic nuts like macadamia nuts.
| Macadamia Nut Facts | |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name : | Macadamia spp. Proteaceae |
| Common Names: | Macadamia, Australian nut, Queensland Nut |
| Origin : | native to southeastern Queensland, Australia |
| World Supplier: | Hawaii is the largest producer of Macadamia nuts |
| Cultivation : | full sun, but in hot climates partial shade, rich soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5; will not tolerate soil or water with high salt concentrations; brittle branches can be damaged by wind, especially when laden with a heavy crop of nuts |
| Harvest: | it is difficult to tell when the nut is mature; nets are often placed beneath trees to catch ripe nuts |
- Reference
- Curb, J.D., Wergowske, G., Dobbs, J.C., Abbott, R.D., Huang, B. 2000. Serum lipid effects of a high-monounsaturated fat diet based on macadamia nuts.Arch. Intern. Med.160:1154-81
- Macadamia cultivation2
- Australian Macadamia Society
Monounsaturated Fat?
hydrogenated fats,
mac nut oil,
mac nuts,
macadamia nut oil,
mediterranean diet,
monounsaturated fat,
monounsaturated fatty acid,
saturated fats
Q: Isn't fat bad for people with heart disease?
A: Certain fats such as hydrogenated fats and some saturated fats have been shown to be a problem, but not the monounsaturated fats found in MacNut Oil. MacNut Oil is 85% monounsaturated fatty acids. A review of the clinical studies shows that a diet high in monounsaturated fats, like the Mediterranean diet, has many health benefits. Please see some of the exciting research about monounsaturated fats in our MacNut Oil Attributes section. In fact, the American Heart Association has given a heart-healthy seal of approval to MacNut Oil.
