Raw Macadamias Whole | Large Premium Grade

‘Macadamia’ is a type of tree relating to the flowering plant ‘Protea’ and a type of fossilised pollen. The Proteaceae family (Banksia, Grevillia, Persoonia, and Macadamia) was originally distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Macadamia tree was specifically discovered in Southern Queensland, (Australia) during the same time Australia was separating from the mega-continent of Gondwana. The Macadamia nut has become a popular seed in many continents around the world. They are grown commercially in countries such as- Hawaii, China, South Africa, Australia, as well as West and South America. History of Macadamia The orchard nut has been enjoyed for over fifty million years, and dates back thousands of years by the aboriginal people. Initially called ‘Kindal Kindali’ Macadamia nuts were collected and traded between tribes. They were suggested to be a delicacy and were used as ceremonial gifts. Found in the fringes of rainforests, they were prevalent between the native people and animals. The native aboriginals had names such as ‘Goomburra’ and ‘Boomberra’ for the nuts. In the 1850’s natives showed European botanists the seed and they became intrigued; for years they were confused for chestnuts and black beans. The nut was notably exchanged for tobacco, tommy axes, and rum by European settlers. They were collected and researched by Australian botanists throughout the 1850’s. By 1858 it was named ‘Macadamia’ after scientist John Macadam, the Secretary of the Victorian Philosophical Institute. The first orchard tree was planted, and commercialised, by white settlers in the early 1880s. The plant was established in Lismore, Sydney, Australia by Charles Staff, and is now known as ‘Australia’s gift to the world’. Macadamia’s Nutritional Value The Macadamia nuts plant is filled with a long list of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. In terms of what gastrointestinal advantages it holds, the seed is made up of healthy (monosaturated) fats and carbohydrates. This helps raise your good cholesterol levels, and lower your bad ones. This is particularly helpful for those who have, or who are at risk of diabetes, as the seeds do not spike your sugar levels. Macadamia nuts contain natural soluble fibre which benefits your digestive health and gut health, (acts as a prebiotic) and also contains Copper, which promotes your body turning food into energy. Looking at the rest of the body, Macadamia nuts contain an extremely high amount of Manganese and Magnesium. These minerals work towards forming your bones, connective tissue, and regulating your muscles, the clotting of blood, and the nervous system. The Macadamia seed holds lots of vitamins- Vitamin E, (Tocotrienol) Vitamin B1, (Thiamine)Vitamin B6, and Potassium. These nutrients contain lots of neuroprotective properties, for example, assets that support neurotransmitters travelling around the body, assets that promote the normal functions of the body, and more. Macadamia as a Culinary Resource Macadamias are a special resource in cooking as they can be eaten in several different ways. Raw, whole, chopped, blended, fried, and roasted… those are just some of ways you can enjoy this seed. Their versatility allows you to add them to pretty much any meal at any time, whether that’s to add flavour, or to add some texture, macadamias will not let you down. To add to Macadamia’s versatility, the seed has a high oil content (72%) making it perfect to use as a nut butter and a substitute oil for frying. They also create a great coating for foods. Adding them as a crust or coating to your protein part of the meal can make a simple meal a little bit more exciting. Just by simply crushing the seed, you allow for a crunchy and crispy finish that can also be added on top on meals as a similar touch to breadcrumbs. The Macadamia plant has a very distinct taste, giving the nuts a great additive to your dishes. They really boost the taste and consistency of every dish you cook with, as they have a crunchy hard shell to bite into, but are extremely creamy and velvety inside. This makes for a great addition to creamy pasta dishes, and even desserts. In baking, Macadamias work well in crunchy cookies, (especially with white chocolate) muffins, brownies, gateaux, blondies, mousse, and even in sweet and savoury cakes. The creaminess and munch enhance the flavour and texture of ice cream creating a lovely rich pudding. Macadamia as a Healthy Snack As we all now know, Macadamias are very versatile. They can be eaten raw or cooked, so they can be chucked into most meals- salads, pastas, stir-fries, biscotti, gnocchi, and veggie burgers; to name a few. They are a perfect pantry ingredient because they can be used in any meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a healthy snack. Macadamias are full of fibre, good fats, and protein. As a collection, these make the seeds a beneficial snack; for keeping you healthy and fuller for longer. Macadamias are naturally low in sugar and are full of antioxidants, putting them high up on the list for nuts as a smaller bite to eat. There is no end to the list of versions of snack-based Macadamias. For example, they can be toasted, roasted, salted, spiced, and covered in chocolate. Macadamia in the Beauty Industry Earlier, we talked about the long list of nutrients and minerals found in Macadamia seeds. Vitamin E, (Tocotrienol) Vitamin B1, (Thiamine)Vitamin B6, are just some to name, which, mixed into cosmetics can be really nourishing for the skin and hair. This plant-based product is full of fatty-acids which also boost the moisture levels and anti-aging effect in cosmetics such as- soaps, shampoos, and creams. Other Uses With the parts of the nut that are inedible (Shell and husk) they contain the polymer Lignin and the molecule Cellulose. This, when mixed together is commonly used as the main constituent for wood and Mulch. Macadamias also contain activated carbon/activated charcoal which is extracted and used to purify air and water. Macadamias polymeric composites are also used in lots of different structures, in industries such as aerospace, automotive and other infrastructures involving sand and plastic. Why is Macadamia Expensive With Macadamias versatility, comes its unique and specific development. Macadamia nut prices range between £10 and £40 depending on weight. In terms of nut population, Macadamias take 1% of global growth, because of the small number of plantations. On top of this, Macadamia trees take 10 years to start producing nuts, therefore the harvesting process is incredibly slow, making them a rarer resource to sell and buy. However, with the plant having multipurpose, the nuts are equally as popular. Interestingly, Macadamias require very specific growing conditions. It is no wonder that the main inhabitancy of this plant is in the Southern Hemisphere, because the nuts need warm temperatures, and lots of rain to grow. The rainforests in Australia are home to the largest number of Macadamias, very few other locations offer the same conditions as Australian continent. With this being said, these particular landing spots can be pricey to use for development, adding another reason behind Macadamias higher expense. A good fact about Macadamia’s higher paying price comes from their organic production. Organic Macadamia nuts are made without any chemical, stimulant, or pesticide interaction. They are completely natural and have no interference from the minute they are picked from the plant to the moment you buy them in a shop. Rest assured, Fair Trade works with plenty of companies that produce Macadamias, meaning those nuts have a sustainable and equitable trade history. Keep an eye out for Fair Trade Macadamias in your local shops. Where to buy Macadamias? Despite their complicated and slow growth, Macadamias are not hard to find. You can find smaller packets and jars of raw, roasted and whole Macadamias in most supermarkets. If you’re intrigued by Macadamias in other forms, and want to find the best Macadamia nuts, have a look at your local farm shops, organic shops, and macadamia nut shops, you can even buy macadamia nuts online. Here at Whole Foods Earth, we offer a wide range of Macadamias in different forms: Dry Roasted Macadamia Nuts, crunchy/smooth Macadamia butter, Raw Macadamias, and Chocolate Covered Macadamias. Have a look at our healthy food shop online.

Are macadamia nuts healthy? Macadamia nuts are rich in nutrients. They are packed with healthy mono-saturated fats. They also contain vitamins (including B6), fibre, thiamine, manganese, copper, magnesium, and iron. Macadamia nuts are low in carbs and sugar, which makes them good for people with diabetes (they will unlikely cause a spike in your sugar level). They also contain flavonoids which are antioxidants helping to fight inflammation and lower cholesterol. Additionally, they are loaded with tocotrienols, a kind of vitamin E, another antioxidant which may help lower cholesterol levels. What are the health benefits of macadamia nuts? Eating macadamia nuts is linked to several health benefits, including lowering bad cholesterol, improving heart health and blood sugar control, and helping digestion and weight management (despite the high-calorie content). Macadamia nuts are also associated with a lower risk of developing cancer and brain diseases. Why are macadamia nuts expensive? The reason why macadamia nuts are so expensive is the fact that they are tree nuts. They are not only rare but need a long time to grow. The trees take years from planting to harvest (between three to even seven years). Macadamia trees are grown in a few different locations of the world but require special climate conditions, so they cannot be grown everywhere. The species originated in the high-altitude hills of Queensland, Australia, but today farmers adapted hybrids of macadamia that can grow in a similar environment in the mountains of California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Brazil, South Africa, Malawi and Kenya. Macadamia trees require a lot of rain and a temperate climate identical to the one the trees come from. The same type of land is often used for coffee, avocado, and fruits, which are more profitable crops for the local farmers, giving crops much earlier than macadamia trees. Moreover, because of the increasing land attractiveness and value in these regions, farming has to compete with tourism and real estate development these days. Another factor in the high price is the processing issues. Macadamia nuts are harvested prematurely, meaning the farmers can’t see the kernel inside the shell when picking them, so they might gather the nuts while they are still developing the oil. Another problem is the shelling damage to the kernels if not done correctly. Whole macadamia nuts are very rare. They make up less than half of shelled macadamia kernels; the rest are macadamia halves or pieces that got damaged in the shelling process. Adding to the ever-growing demand for macadamia nuts, these are all the reasons why macadamia nuts are so expensive. Can people with an allergy to nuts eat macadamia nuts? Macadamia nuts are tree nuts, so like any other tree nuts, they may cause allergies. However, the allergy to macadamias is rare. It is estimated to cause less than 5% of all tree nut allergies. If you're allergic to one type of tree nut, it doesn't mean you're allergic to all kinds of tree nuts - check with your doctor if you can eat macadamia nuts safely. Can dogs eat macadamia nuts? Even though macadamia nuts are so beneficial for humans they are on the list of food products to avoid when feeding your dog. The compound of macadamia that is toxic to dogs is unknown but even 1 macadamia nut may cause vomiting, weakness, lack of coordination and hyperthermia so keep your doggies away from your macadamias!

Food lovers aka foodies are those people who simply love to eat. They often love to cook and bake as well. But be aware, they won't eat anything. Foodies often focus on the best quality foods and the best cooking ingredients. So when you want to offer them a gift, let it be the best foods you can find. Foodies will appreciate a Christmas hamper filled with organic produce, vegetables and fruits, whole foods, organic nuts, fermented foods, quality condiments and pickles, organic olive oil and premium herbs and spices. What to add to a foodie Christmas hamper? Here's the list of products you can be assure, a food lover will love! Rare whole foods & grains Wild rice, freekeh, kasha Wholegrain pasta & noodles wholegrain pasta in different shapes, Italian pasta, Japanese noodles Organic oils & quality vinegars Organic olive oil is always great gift option for a foodie. The best organic olive oil available on the market are Greek olive oil and Portuguese olive oil. There are also some speciality rare oils such as pumpkin seed oil, hemp oil, avocado oil, sesame seed oil and peanut oil as well as a good quality Balsamic vinegar will make a perfect addition to a foodie hamper. Organic nuts Organic almonds, macadamia, pistachios, chestnuts, whole walnuts Organic dried fruits Medjoul dates, dried Mediterranean figs, dried apricots, organic prunes, sultanas Premium herbs and spices Organic herbs: organic oregano, organic Basil, organic rosemary, organic bay leaves, organic thyme, organic sage Organic spices: Ceylon cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, organic black pepper, star anise, cardamon, organic chilli, chilli flakes, Harissa paste, varieties of miso, green, red and yellow curry paste, tandoori Salt Pink Himalayan salt, Kala Namal - black salt, Sea salt, Flor de Sal Pickles and fermented foods Kimchi is many flavours, sauerkraut in different versions, beetroot pickles, cucumber pickles, kombucha Organic tea & coffee Matcha powder, organic roasted coffee beans, 100% Arabica coffee beans, organic green tea, organic Earl Grey, fruit infusions, hibiscus flour

The world's leading nutrition experts and researchers attended NUTS 2022 conference last week to discuss the health research on nuts and dried fruits. The conference summarised the latest evidence on health benefits of nuts and dried fruits, and the opportunities in research for the future. Health benefits of nuts and dried fruits The effects of nut and dried fruit consumption have gained traction over the last years, and supported by growing scientific evidence they have been associated with many health benefits, from cardiovascular health to insulin resistance and diabetes, weight management, lipoproteins and dyslipidemia, inflammation and oxidation, gut health, aging and cognition, and some forms of cancer. More recently, other lines of research have included fertility and nuts and dried fruits as part of sustainable diets. While some areas of research have been put into focus more than others, there is irrefutable evidence that they are nutrient-dense foods with an interesting nutritional composition. Importance of nuts and dried fruits in healthy diet The NUTS 2022 participants highlighted how a joint effort must be made to help bring awareness to the importance of including nuts and dried fruits as part of a healthy diet. The benefits of nuts are wide-ranging and include a variety of nutrients, mono- and polyunsaturated fats, fibre, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants, all which have a beneficial effect on health, and dried fruits contain essential nutrients and health-promoting bioactive compounds such as antioxidants. Nuts and dried fruits in prevention of diabetes Among the future lines of research discussed in the meeting, experts highlighted the potential role of nuts and dried fruits in the prevention of diabetes, which is of particular relevance in today's world. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently 537 million people worldwide with diabetes, and this number is projected to reach 700 million people by 2045. Prevalence is increasing worldwide, leading to over 4 million deaths every year, and in countries such as China and India, the number of deaths attributable to diabetes are extremely high: 1.4 million and 648,000 people, respectively. Lifestyle measures and a healthy diet have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes. NUTS 2022 took place from 20 till 21 October and gathered the brightest minds in the field of nutrition research on nuts and dried fruits, including twenty-five researchers and professors from universities in Europe, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Iran, Turkey, the USA and the UK. Chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Distinguished Professor at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, the meeting included highly-esteemed researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Loma Linda University, and Penn State University, among others.

Whether you eat nuts raw or roasted, they provide you with great health benefits. 1. Lower risk of contamination Roasting or toasting the nuts can reduce the risk of contamination. Processing any food item at high temperatures, such as cooking, baking and roasting, helps to eliminate germs and miscreants that can appear in the produce. Roasted nuts are then more purified and safer to eat. 2. Easy digestion Roasted nuts are better for your digestive system. Cooked food is always easier to digest compared to raw food. When food is cooked or roasted, it will be more likely easier to break down in your stomach. 3. Better flavour Roasting or toasting makes nuts taste better. Roasting enhances the taste and texture of the nuts. Thanks to roasting, nuts are more crispy and crunchy and, therefore, more enjoyable to eat. 4. Roasted nuts nutrition Roasted nuts are good for you and provide great health benefits for your body and mind. They contain similar amounts (if no salt, oil or sugar was added) of protein, fibre and carbohydrates and calories as raw nuts however you must remember that roasting nuts may damage their healthy fat content and can slightly reduce their nutrients. Are there any risks of eating roasted nuts? Roasting some type of nuts in high temperatures can the lead to the formation of a harmful substance called acrylamide. Acrylamide is a chemical compound that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, grilling, roasting, and baking. It is often found in cookies, cakes, bread, cereals, potato products such as crisps and chips, and roasted coffee. Although acrylamide was detected in roasted almonds and pistachios it was not found in macadamia nuts, walnuts or hazelnuts. Consuming roasted nuts in moderation should not be dangerous. 5. How to roast nuts at home? Heat up the oven up to 180 degrees C. Spread the nuts on the baking tray and roast them for about 5-10 minutes. All of nuts are great for roasting. The roasting time depends on the type of nuts. Tender nuts like walnuts, pecans, cashews or pistachios need a gentle treatment: from 5 to 8 minutes of roasting. Harder nuts like hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds and macadamias need a bit more time - from 8 to 10 minutes to get beautifully toasted. Nuts are ready when they start looking a bit darker (not too dark!) and have a lovely toasty smell. Roasting temperature has much greater impact on acrylamide formation than the roasting time. Roasting almonds at a temperature below 130°C will reduce acrylamide formation.

We know that almonds offer incredible benefits for human health, but now researchers have found more evidence that almonds are particularly great for our gut health. A healthy gut promotes immunity According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating a handful of almonds every day increases butyrate production. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that improves gut health. In the gut, there are thousands of microorganisms that play an essential role in digesting nutrients. They can positively or negatively influence our health, including our digestive and immune systems. It all depends on the food we consume. Results of previous studies suggest that eating healthy foods can be great for the good bacteria in our gut. Almonds promote gut health & boost immunity A team of scientists from King's College London researched the influence of whole and ground almonds on the structure of gut microbes. The researchers recruited 87 healthy adults with some unhealthy habits to take part in the study. These were people eating unhealthy snacks like crisps, chocolate and sweets and already consuming less than the recommended amount of dietary fibre. Almonds as a healthy snack The researchers divided the participants into three groups and recommended snack change for a trial of four weeks. Group one - the participants replaced their unhealthy snacks with 56 g of whole almonds a day. Group two - the participants changed their snacks to 56 g of ground almonds daily. Group three - the control group where participants just ate energy-matched muffins once a day. Almonds increase the production of butyrate The study results show that butyrate was significantly higher among participants who ate almonds when compared to those who consumed the muffins. Butyrate is the primary source of fuel for the cells lining the large intestine (colon). When these cells are healthy and effective, the gut microbes flourish, creating a strong gut wall and all the essential nutrients to be absorbed. When the gut wall is weak, it quickly leads to inflammation, and the body cannot absorb all the nutrients it needs. Almonds can help improve constipation problems The researchers observed that eating more almonds can benefit those with constipation problems. Although no difference was observed in gut transit time (the time food moves through the gut), the whole-almond eaters experienced an extra 1.5 bowel movements per week compared to other participants. Commenting on the study results, Professor Kevin Whelan, Head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King's College London, said: "Part of the way in which the gut microbiota impact human health is through the production of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate. These molecules act as a fuel source for cells in the colon, they regulate the absorption of other nutrients in the gut, and help balance the immune system. We think these findings suggest almond consumption may benefit bacterial metabolism in a way that has the potential to influence human health." Almonds are a great source of fibre The study results also show that consuming more almonds can improve people's diet, providing them with fibre, healthy monosaturated fatty acids, potassium and other important nutrients when compared to the control group who ate muffins as their daily snack. What can you do to increase butyrate levels? The best way to improve your gut microbiome and make it produce butyrate is to eat more plant-based products that are high in fibre, starch and pectin, including whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits. Replace your bad snacking habits with natural healthy snacks. Buy almonds online at Wholefood Earth and boost your immunity before the cold season.