Generalities and Description
Macadamia is a genus of plants originating from the Australian continent, more precisely from the Southern New Welsh (state of Australia located in the south-eastern part of the country).
Belonging to the Proteaceae family, the genus Macadamia has four species of plants that produce edible seeds (called macadamia nuts ), respectively: Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia jansenii, Macadamia ternifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla .
In English, macadamia nuts are known as: queensland nut, bush nut, maroochi nut, bauple nut and Hawaii nut (in aboriginal bauple, gyndl, jindilli, and boombera).
The four species of Macadamia are quite different from each other. They are shown as small or large evergreen trees, with a height between 2 and 12m.
Macadamia flowers are organized in a simple, long (5-30cm) and thin raceme; the flowers are 10-15mm long, white or pink or purple, with four petals.
The fruit of Macadamia is a globose follicle with a pointed apex, of hard and woody consistency, containing one or two edible seeds for humans.
Nutritional Features
Macadamia nuts are foods of plant origin that do not fall under the classification of the seven fundamental groups. However, due to its nutritional characteristics, the most similar set is that of fats and seasoning oils (group V).
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Macadamia nuts have a very high energy intake which, quantitatively speaking, is similar to that of butter. These calories are provided mainly by fats, followed by modest amounts of protein and carbohydrates; compared to other more common edible seeds, such as almonds and walnuts, they are richer in lipids and contain less peptides and glucides.
The fatty acids of macadamia nuts are mainly unsaturated, more precisely monounsaturated; proteins have a medium biological value and complex carbohydrates; they do not provide cholesterol and the fibers are quite abundant.
Macadamia nuts boast the highest concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids among all the seeds known to date; they contain as much as 22% of the omega-7 palmitoleic acid, which has biological effects similar to those of oleic acid (also monounsaturated, typical of extra virgin olive oil).
Among the mineral salts there are good concentrations of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper and selenium. As for the vitamins, the levels of thiamine (vit B1) and niacin (vit PP) stand out.
Macadamia nuts are foods to be consumed in moderation in any nutritional regime and should be avoided in the event of overweight. If you want to insert them anyway, they should be used instead of oil to dress in a 1: 1 ratio.
As far as the metabolic impact is concerned, macadamia nuts have no side effects. On the contrary, the specific breakdown of fatty acids is considered beneficial and, exploited in the right way, could help to reduce the percentage of total saturations in the diet; it is however good to keep in mind that, in the Mediterranean diet, thanks to the use of extra virgin olive oil (rich in monounsaturated fatty acids), the use of macadamia nuts would not determine any compositional improvement.
Macadamia nuts lend themselves to vegetarian, vegan, raw food and do not conflict with any religion. They are considered gluten free (gluten free) and as such they are part of the celiac diet; being lactose-free, they can also be eaten by those suffering from this disease.
In the case of severe diverticulosis, with a relative tendency to diverticulitis, it is better to avoid or consume them sporadically, taking care to chew with great care.
The average portion of macadamia nuts is about 5-10g a day.
FLAVOR
The taste of macadamia nuts is indicated as rich and sophisticated, with sweetish and pleasant hints. Roasted and salted macadamia nuts are also widespread in the territories of origin, as well as the butter obtained from them.
Poisonous Macadamia for Dogs
Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs.
Within 12 hours of taking these animals, macadamia nuts cause a form of toxicosis characterized by weakness and paralysis of the hind limbs, associated with the inability to stand and walk.
Depending on the amount of walnuts ingested and the size of the dog, symptoms can also include muscle tremors, joint pains and severe abdominal cramps.
With high doses of toxin, it is allowed to use opiate drugs to alleviate the dog's suffering up to the natural reduction in symptoms. Full recovery is usually expected within 24-48 hours.
False Macadamia Nuts
In the past, although they were distributed separately, other species were grouped under the Macadamia genus.
More recent genetic and morphological studies (up to 2008) show that these are different organisms; on the other hand, it is not uncommon for their fruits to still (erroneously) be called macadamia nuts.
Below we will list them, referring to the origin of the plant and the botanical nomenclature updated to the year 2008:
- All the genus Virotia, endemic to New Caledonia, differentiated already in 1975 with only one species, which became six in 2008;
- Heyana species of the genus Catalepidia, endemic to eastern North Queensland, differentiated in 1995;
- Three species of the genus Lasjia, endemic to north-eastern Queensland and the Cape York peninsula, differentiated in 2008.
- Two species of the genus Lasjia (ex M. hildebrandii - 1952 - and M. erecta - 1995), endemic to Sulawesi (Indonesia), differentiated in 2008.
