Macadamia Nut

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Macadamia nut is the seed of the macadamia tree. Macadamia nuts are native to Australia. They are grown commercially in Hawaii and, to a much smaller extent, in California and Florida.

Roasted macadamia nuts are a popular snack. But some people also use macadamia nuts as medicine to lower high cholesterol.

How does it work?

Macadamia nuts contain monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and plant substances that might lower cholesterol.

Possibly Effective for...

• Lowering cholesterol. Eating macadamia nuts as part of a healthy diet seems to lower total and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and to raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. But the changes aren’t huge. Men with high cholesterol who eat 17-37 nuts per day for four weeks can see their total cholesterol drop by about 3%, their LDL cholesterol drop by about 5%, and their HDL rise by about 8%.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Macadamia nuts are safe as food, and they seem to be safe as medicine for most people. They can cause an allergy, but this is rare.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Macadamia nuts are safe when eaten as food. But it’s not known whether it’s safe to take them in larger medicinal amounts during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Play it safe and stick to food amounts.

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

• For lowering cholesterol: 40 to 90 grams (about 17 to 37 macadamia nuts) per day.