Macadamia - Myths and Science

Another great food gets a bad rap?

When most people think of macadamia nuts, they say, “Oh, but they are so fattening!”
This is simply untrue!  It is another belief based on misinformation. Similar to the bad rap coconut oil got and continues to get in many circles, processed macadamia nuts are confused with their raw counterparts.

Confusion also comes from the presence of saturated fats.  Macadamia nuts, however, contain a high level of monounsaturated fats. Just don’t eat them roasted and salted!

Saturated fats are highly misunderstood:  we need some saturated fats for cell health.  A poor diet - one high in animal fats and other acid causing practices, poor food combining, processed foods, a lack of vegetables, and a plethora of  low quality ingredients - nullifies any argument about good fats and bad fats, or the nature of saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats.  Good foods get vilified in the midst of an ill paradigm.

Macademia nuts are now being recognized as a healthy part of a good diet - especially concerning heart health.

See: http://live.psu.edu/story/30112

“The Healthy Heart diet with macadamia nuts did reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared with the standard American diet. The researchers reported in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition, that the macadamia nuts reduced total cholesterol by 9.4 percent and low-density lipoprotein by 8.9 percent.”

I usually order mine from Living Tree Community.

I found raw organic macadamia nuts  for a lower price here, which I haven’t yet tried. (Still working on my last 10lb order!)

The Importance of Soaking Nuts

Often in our attempts to “get healthy,” important details get lost in the shuffle.  When choosing nuts and seeds as a part of your healthy diet, remember that they must be raw to have the benefits you desire.  Rather than cooking them, you must soak them.

Nuts, seeds, legumes, grains all contain enzyme inhibitors which appear to be somewhat toxic. They inhibit the beneficial components of these foods as their natural way of preserving the nut, seed, grain, or legume until it has optimum growing circumstances.  I have collected information from a number of helpful websites which you can use as further resources.

“Raw nuts, seeds, and whole grains are widely recognized as healthy foods, but they’re not truly healthy unless you prepare them properly.”
from: http://naturalbias.com/a-hidden-danger-with-nuts-grains-and-seeds
“Phytic acid is a substance found in the bran of grains and the coating of nuts and seeds. It inhibits the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. And this doesn’t only apply to the minerals in the nuts, it also applies to the minerals in the foods you eat with the nuts.”

“Nuts and seeds naturally contain enzyme inhibitors. And by soaking them, you not only release the toxic enzyme inhibitors, but also increase the life and vitality contained within them! The purpose of these enzyme inhibitors is to protect the nut and/or seed until it has what it needs for growing (ex. sunlight, water, soil, etc.). Since the water that you soak your nuts in will contain the enzyme inhibitors, and is very acidic to the body, please be sure to rinse your nuts and seeds well after soaking and to discard the water.”
from: http://www.tinamarieblog.com/?p=61
“Walnuts, Brazil nuts, and pecans do not contain the large amount of enzyme inhibitors as other nuts, yet they do in fact have some. You can rinse and soak for a short while 3 - 4 hours to reduce the enzyme inhibitor but as I do not always soak my walnuts or pecans, and have not have bad stomach reactions, not soaking them for use raw or in recipes is fine too.”

“By soaking them, these enzyme inhibitors are removed and the beneficial enzymes we want from them are actually doubled….
The performance of every organ in our bodies is linked to enzyme activity. In essence, without enzymes, there would be no life. Period.”
from: http://www.sustainablyraw.com/blog/?p=8

For those of you ready for some serious sprouting, the site http://www.raw-food-living.com/soaking-nuts.html has a comprehnsive chart showing various seeds, grains, legumes, and their necessary soaking and sprouting durations.
http://www.raw-food-living.com/soaking-nuts.html

Raw Recipes - Cauliflower and Parsnip Pilaf

1 large head of cauliflower - I pick the heads with no brown spots
3 medium parsnips
1/4 c raw pine nuts
1/8 c olive oil
1 tsp salt*
2 tsp rosemary

Chop the cauliflower and parsnips into large pieces. Pulse in the food processor a little so that it is still very coarsely chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients and chop until about the size of rice grains.
Empty into a serving bowl.

Always adjust recipes to suit you.  Ingredients like olive oil, salt, spices can be adjusted if you like less or more.  This salad is surprisingly filling, so don’t skimp on the olive oil or pine nuts, because they are the “meat” of the meal.  More recipes to complement and make full meals coming soon.

*Himalayan pink salt is supposed to be the purest salt available.
A more affordable option is Real Salt finely ground salt powder which dissolves easily. I have also used the regular Real Salt with no problems. It can be found at health food stores and Whole Foods.