5 Ways Macadamia Nut Oil Can Benefit Your Health

If you like macadamia nuts, you’ve probably used them in baking or trail mixes. They’re tasty, crunchy, and so good for you.

Macadamia oil offers another way to reap the benefits. It has a nutty flavor that can add serious flavor to your meals. For added benefits, you can even use this oil on your hair and skin.

Compared to others oil, macadamia oil is the best source for palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) that’s also known as omega-7.¹ It is also responsible for these five amazing benefits of macadamia oil.

1. Reduces Blood Cholesterol

In America, 31 million adults have high total cholesterol. About 73.5 million adults also have high “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Most don’t even get treatment, making cholesterol-related problems more likely.²

The palmitoleic acid in macadamia oil can help these problems. It’s been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol while increasing “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The result is an overall decrease in total cholesterol.³

Nuts are also low in saturated fat. By using macadamia nut oil, you can replace saturated fat intake with healthier MUFAs.⁴

If you have high cholesterol, your risk of heart disease doubles. But if you bring it back to normal, your chances of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack will decrease.⁵Macadamia oil will help you get there.

2. Shrinks Fat Cells

Macadamia oil can even slow down the growth of adipocytes, or fat cells. This regulates cellular homeostasis and prevents harmful disturbances. Smaller adipocytes also mean that oxygen will have an easier time reaching your tissues.⁶

Does this mean adipocytes are bad? Definitely not. Having too little will cause problems that are strikingly similar to having too much. Therefore, a balance is needed.⁷

Using macadamia oil will keep fat cells at a healthy size. In turn, you’ll have better metabolic control.⁸

3. Improved Insulin Resistance

If your adipocytes are large, they’ll release glycerol and free fatty acids. It’ll pave the way for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Macadamia oil will have the opposite effect. As it shrinks your adipocytes, insulin resistance will improve.⁹ As a result, your risk for type 2 diabetes will take a nosedive.

4. Prevents Inflammation

The MUFAs in macadamia nut oil have anti-inflammatory properties.¹⁰ And as palmitoleic acid stunts adipocyte growth, inflammation will decrease. It works by reducing leptin secretion from adipocytes.

Since leptin is linked to low-grade inflammation, the possibility of inflammatory disease will lessen.¹¹ It will prevent a wide range of conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.¹²

5. Healthier Skin

Palmitoleic acid is naturally found in the skin. However, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can reduce the level of palmitoleic acid. Aging also makes you more susceptible to UV-irradiation.

Fortunately, applying macadamia oil on your skin can replenish palmitoleic acid.¹³ It also doubles as an amazing moisturizer for the skin and hair.

Macadamia oil can be used like any other carrier oil. It serves as a great base for essential oils, but can also be used alone.

Safety Notes

Tree nuts are one of the most common food allergens.¹⁴ If you’re allergic to tree nuts, be careful with macadamia nut oil. An allergy test can determine if you have a macadamia nut allergy.

Macadamia is an awesome source of MUFAs, which most people don’t consume enough of.¹⁵ To boost your intake, add macadamia nut oil to your diet. If you can’t find it at the grocery, check out your local health market.