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?nw=1

“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!)

I’m Cuckoo for Coconuts

I adore young coconuts.  There is nothing in the world so refreshing to me as young coconut water - the light, almost clear water that forms inside (not to be confused with coconut milk).

Coconuts have health benefits far greater than most of us are aware of, so I have included below the highlights from an article at:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/coconutwater.html

‘Here is some information about Coconut Water:

“It’s a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life, so to speak.” In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma trasfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk
• Coconut water is naturally sterile — Water permeates though the filtering husk!
• Coconut water is a universal donor– Its identical to human blook plasma
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

“Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue… and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural!”, according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organization.

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!

Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.

Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.’

Almonds for Lunch?

We hear over and over again that almonds are a great food with benefits for heart, brain, and overall health.
Read more about health benefits of almonds in my article on healthy foods.

I have also written that one ought to soak almonds and other nuts overnight to remove the enzyme inhibitors which are a natural part of most nuts.

Okay, so now what? What are we supposed to do with these soaked almonds? Well, here is a delicious recipe that will fill you up nicely and leave you full of energy. This is a good prospect for lunchtime since everyone knows that after your average satisfying lunch, one often just wants to sleep (hence the siesta in so many countries!)

1 cup raw organic almonds - soaked over night, then rinsed
1/8 cup raw organic pine nuts - also soaked over night
1 tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp salt (Himalayan, Real Salt, or your preferred sea salt)
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (more if desired)

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. You may have to open the processor and push the mixture back down to the bottom with your spatula. If necessary add a couple of table spoons of water at a time and try again until the mixture gets creamy.

The result will be much like hummus, but with greater health benefits. The monounsaturated fats and other plant fats in this recipe will feed your body, brain and cravings in the most delightful way.

Use as a dip with snap peas, baby carrots, celery, red bell peppers, and/or raw flax crisps or raw seed crackers (easy to find at health food stores). You can also spread it along the spine of a large collard leaf (cut off the stem at the bottom of the leaf. Add sprouts and roll tightly lengthwise.

With a salad on the side: voila, mes amis! You are eating a healthy raw food lunch!