I’m sure most of you have heard of macadamias, one of the most popular varieties of nuts because of its rich, nutty flavour. However, did you know that an oil can also be derived from it? True enough, macadamia organic oil is derived from the cold compression of the macadamia nuts that are indigenous to Australia but frequently cultivated in Hawaii and California, where it has a more temperate climate.

The organic oil of macadamia is a clear to pale yellowish liquid which has a nutty flavor and aroma. It makes for a wonderful carrier oil to be blended with other essential oils and applied onto the skin, because it contains numerous benefits and useful medicinal properties that work for the skin.

It is also rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are widely known to be able to lower LDL cholesterol levels, or “bad” forms of cholesterol.

These fatty acids are important because they are not manufactured by the body, thus they have to be garnered from the food that we take. Read on to find out more about the constituents and benefits of macadamia organic oil!

Health Benefits of Macadamia Organic Oil:

1. Promotes Heart Health

As abovementioned, macadamia organic oil has a high content of essential and beneficial fatty acids that makes it quite potent in promoting the good health of your most vital organ, the heart. Basically, macadamia nut as a properly balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids content and this is good for lowering triglycerides level in the body.

Triglycerides are essentially fats in the body which can clog up your arteries and increase your cholesterol levels, thus making it very dangerous for your heart as it increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. However, macadamia nut oil can help to rebalance your cholesterol levels and reduce the amount of triglycerides in the bloodstreams, thanks to the presence of essential fatty acids.

In fact, a 2003 study published in The Journal of Nutrition sought to assess the cholesterol-lowering potential of macadamia nuts. When macadamia nuts were given to 17 hypercholesterolemic men for 4 weeks, they found that plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations decreased by 3.0 and 5.3% respectively, thus demonstrating how macadamia nuts can favourably modify the plasma lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic men.

Another 2006 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition supports this idea, as they mentioned that tree nuts, which are high in unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, can serve as heart-healthy foods resulting in a cholesterol lowering response, typically to reduce cardiovascular diseases.

As such, you can incorporate macadamia organic oil into your diet, by adding it into your culinary dishes like salads and hummus in place of olive oil instead. Its nutty fragrance and aroma also serves as an added boost to enhance the flavour of your dishes.

2. Promotes Skin Health

Macadamia nut oil is also an excellent carrier oil to be blended with other essential oils for topical application onto the skin. The oil readily absorbs into the skin, without leaving an oily or greasy residue behind, thus making it a good non-comedogenic agent for your pores and it prevents breakouts from happening. As such, macadamia organic oil is a great carrier and moisturizing oil for those with oily and acne-prone skin.

For those with dry, sensitive or red, irritated skin, macadamia organic oil is also great as a moisturizing and soothing agent. Simply rub it onto problematic areas like scars, sunburns, shaving burns and dry patches. The presence of oleic acid in the oil makes it perfect for regenerative and moisturizing properties, while linoleic acid in the oil prevents trans-epidermal water loss from the skin’s tissues.

You can also add a few drops of it into your daily skincare products or create an oil blend. For example, you can mix 1 drop of macadamia oil with equal amounts of grapeseed oil, 2 drops of almond and apricot kernel oils each, coupled with a few drops of jojoba and carrot oils to make a rejuvenating body oil for dry skin.

3. Rich with Antioxidants

Besides those, macadamia organic oil is filled with rich natural antioxidants and health-promoting phytochemicals that help to protect and combat oxidative stress and free radical damage to prevent a whole host of diseases like cancer, cell mutation and apoptosis. Taking macadamia organic oil internally by adding it into your dishes will help boost the overall health of your body.

In fact, there has been much scientific research done to test the efficacy of macadamia oil’s antioxidant potential of the phenolic compounds present in macadamia nuts, as seen in the 1996 research study which was subsequently published in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society.

With this, it also helps to prevent premature ageing such as sagging skin, wrinkles and age spots on your face when you apply macadamia oil topically onto your skin. It will help to ensure your skin’s youthful glow and radiance.

4. Promotes Hair and Lip Health

Macadamia oil is also a great natural remedy for hair problems. It improves the appearance of your hair by moisturizing it and preventing your hair from becoming too brittle. It also strengthens your hair follicles and hair roots, thus preventing excessive hair loss from happening.

You can add a few drops of the oil into your daily shampoo or conditioner or apply the oil directly to your hair and scalp.

Because of its moisturizing qualities, macadamia organic oil is a good remedy for dry and chapped lips as well. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to soothe any inflammation arising from sores or wounds on the lips. As such, it helps to significantly boost the appearance and health of your lips. Simply combine the oil with organic beeswax to make a homemade lipgloss.

Safety Precautions:

• Those who suffer from nut allergies should exercise caution when using macadamia organic oil.

• Using the oil excessively and constantly, especially when you consume it internally, may lead to weight gain as it contributes to the fats content in your body, even though the fats present in the oil are beneficial and healthy ones.

• Before using it internally, do consult your doctor first for professional medical advice. This is especially so if you have pre-existing medical conditions and are under prescribed medication.

• Macadamia organic oil is mild enough to be applied directly onto the skin or it can be used as a carrier oil for blending of essential oils.

• There is not enough research to ascertain its safety on pregnant and breastfeeding women, so when in doubt, consult the doctor beforehand.

References:

Manohar L. Garg, Robert J. Blake and Ron B.H. Wills, “Macadamia Nut Consumption Lowers Plasma Total and LDL Cholesterol Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Men”, The Journal of Nutrition (2003)

Amy E. Griel and Penny M. Keris-Etherton, “Tree nuts and the lipid profile: a review of clinical studies”, British Journal of Nutrition (2006); 96(52)

L. A. Quinn, H. H. Tang, “Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds in macadamia nuts” Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (1996); 73(11)