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Home » Nutrition Comparisons: Unveiling the Facts

Published: Apr 15, 2023 · Modified: Sep 19, 2023 by Natalie Perry · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

Macadamia and Brazil Nuts- Benefits and Uses

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There are many similarities and differences between Macadamia and Brazil Nuts. One of the key similarities is they each have extraordinary health benefits. Each of these healthy nuts has high nutritional value and is a great addition to a healthy and balanced diet. In this article, we will discuss the differences, origins, nutritional benefits, and various uses for these superfood nuts varieties!

a close-up of two spoons, one with ivory macadamia nuts at the top and one at the bottom has brazil nuts with dark skins peeling off of it and a print at the top that says Benefits and uses with cursive print saying Macadamia a type print saying and and a cursive print saying Brazil Nuts at the bottom right says mindfullyhealthyliving.com in print this …
Jump to:
  • Similarities
  • Macadamia Origins
  • Macadamia Flavor
  • Benefits of Macadamia
  • Uses for Macadamia
  • Brazil Nut Origins
  • Brazil Nuts Flavor
  • Brazil Nut Benefits
  • Warnings
  • Brazil Nut Uses
  • Soaking/Sprouting Nuts
  • Comments

Similarities

If I do say so myself, both Macadamia and Brazil nuts are delicious when covered in chocolate. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate-covered nuts are a scrumptious treat for a midday pick-me-up.

Because of their similar taste and texture, these nuts can often be substituted for one another in recipes. They each contain healthy fats and are a good source of protein.

Being high in protein and low in carbohydrates make them an excellent addition to a low-carb or ketogenic diet. Because nuts are plant-based, they also work well in a vegan or vegetarian diet.

These two nuts can be used in various forms from homemade nut milk, nut butters, trail mixes, protein bars, cereals, baked goods, savory dishes, and more!

A special note of consideration must be taken for those who have allergic reactions to tree nuts. Both Macadamia and Brazil Nuts are considered tree nuts. Consult with your doctor before consuming any type of nut if you or anyone in your family has a history of tree nut allergy.

Although these two nuts have similarities, they also have some unique traits and significant differences.

Macadamia Origins

Technically speaking, Macadamia nuts are not nuts at all. They are a seed that grows in clusters on a flowering tree that is native to Queensland, Australia. The macadamia tree is fast-growing with plenty of green blunt-tipped leaves. Macadamia trees are most commonly grown in South Africa, Kenya, Costa Rica, and Australia. In the United States, Hawaii is one of the largest producers of macadamia due to its ideal tropical climate.

a green treet with blunted leaves and a cluster of round green unripened macadamia fruit hanging from a branch

As you may have noticed, Macadamia nuts can be pricey. In fact, they are considered the most expensive nut in the world. The reason for this is the supply is low and the harvesting process can take 7-10 years from start to finish. They also are only typically able to be harvested a few times per year.

One part of the process includes cracking the very tough shell open. This requires a special machine to crack, as a typical nut cracker will probably break!

Nevertheless, these delicious and nutritious "nuts" are well worth the investment!

Macadamia Flavor

Macadamia seeds are found inside a shell. They are rounded and light ivory in color. They have a creamy and smooth texture with a buttery and nutty flavor.

Often, these nuts are lightly roasted which is believed to enhance their flavor with a hint of sweetness. This is why macadamia is used in the ever-popular macadamia cookie along with many other delicious baked goods.

Many connoisseurs compare the flavor to eating the meat of a coconut. While it pairs well with other tropical fruits and nuts, its rich flavor is truly unique. Because of this, many tropical trail mixes use dried coconut, and dried pineapple, along with lightly roasted macadamia nuts in the mix.

Benefits of Macadamia

Macadamia nuts are highly beneficial due to their high vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant levels. These nuts are most especially known for their high fat content. This nut is made up of 70-80% monounsaturated fats. These fats, combined with polyphenol antioxidants are known to improve heart health, reduce the risk of heart disease, and fight oxidative stress.

a half photo of a brown wooden bowl with whole macadamia nuts in a brown shell with one or two cracked open exposing the inside ivory white macadamia nut plus a clear ramekin to the right with shelled ivory macadamias in it with a grey background

Notably, Macadamia also contains the rare omega-7 fatty acid, palmitoleic acid. This newly studied nutrient helps control cholesterol levels by reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) and increasing HDL, (good cholesterol). It is also anti-inflammatory and improves skin health, liver health, and the function of mucous membranes in the body. It truly is amazing!

As a part of a healthy diet, these superfoods have been shown in studies to help control blood sugar levels and positively benefit weight management.

Macadamia is a good source of fiber, fat-soluble vitamin E, Copper, and B vitamins like Thiamin, and Manganese. One serving of macadamia nuts (one ounce of nuts) contains 204 calories, 2.5 grams of fiber, 21 grams of fat, and 2.25 grams of protein. Each serving contains approximately ÂĽ cup or 10-12 individual nuts.

Uses for Macadamia

You might be surprised to hear about the many uses for Macadamia nuts. For instance, Macadamia Nut Flour can be used in place of Almond, Coconut, Oat, or Cassava Flour.

It can also be made into rich and creamy nut milk. Cakes, cookies, and other desserts often include these decadent nuts.

In some Asian cuisine, macadamia is used in stir-fry recipes.

They can also be blended into nut butter, used in a smoothie, or chopped up into soups, and salads. You can also get them covered in chocolate, or eat them raw, roasted, and/or salted.

Brazil Nut Origins

Like Macadamia Nuts, Brazil Nuts are technically seeds rather than nuts. They are also known as Amazon nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) because the Brazil Nut Tree is indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest. Brazil Nuts are an important export in the economy of South American countries in which they grow. Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Peru are the main countries that harvest these coveted Amazon nuts.

a tall Brazil nut tree amongst many other very green and much shorter trees in the Amazon rainforest

They are only able to be grown in the wild. The harvesters, known as castaneros, travel deep into the rainforest to stay for a month collecting the Brazil nut fruit. During January-March the rainforest is considered in the wet season.

The fruit of the trees typically falls to the forest floor, which makes it easier to collect. It's a good thing, too, because the Brazil nut tree (Baru nut tree) can grow as tall as 160 feet making it one of the tallest trees in the rainforest.

Brazil Nuts Flavor

Brazil nuts have a smooth texture and a mild, nutty flavor. There are hints of wood and sweetness in this uniquely flavored nut. Its smooth texture lends to the oily and buttery flavor and consistency. While smooth, it still produces a dense crunch when bitten into.

Brazil nuts are similar to that macadamia in consistency and flavor. As mentioned above, they are commonly compared to the taste of coconut meat with a crunchier texture. The tropical nature of Brazil nuts also makes them a perfect complement to other tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, mango, lemon, and coconut.

Brazil Nut Benefits

While Macadamia has a higher vitamin content, Brazil nuts are richer in minerals. Additionally, they have high levels of antioxidants that fight free radicals and reduce inflammation and the signs of aging. Like Macadamia and other nuts, they are rich in amino acids, protein, dietary fiber, and healthy fats.

Brazil nuts also have high levels of unsaturated fatty acids as well as polyunsaturated fats which can improve cardiovascular health by reducing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol.

a close up pf a white ramekin with oblong shaped brazil nuts with some of the brown outer coating peeling off of it

One of the most notable benefits of Brazil nuts is their high amount of Selenium. Selenium is an essential mineral that is critical to immune system function, hormone and reproductive function, metabolism, and brain chemistry. All you need is one nut to reach the recommended daily amount of Selenium for adults.

Selenium also plays an important role in the function of the thyroid. Those with hypothyroidism often are deficient in Selenium.

Furthermore, studies have shown that selenium plays a role in cognitive function. This study illustrates how selenium deficiency can contribute heavily to degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's. Its antioxidant activity offers brain-protective properties against free radicals and oxidative stress.

Along with selenium, brazil nuts contain substantial amounts of other vitamins and essential minerals like magnesium and zinc.

These high-vibrational superfoods also benefit male and female fertility and conception. Check out this article for more superfoods that promote successful implantation.

Warnings

Because of its high amount of selenium, regular consumption of Brazil nuts should be limited to just 1-2 per day or consumed infrequently. An excess amount of selenium can build up in the body resulting in toxicity. It would likely take a while, but frequent and excess amounts can be dangerous. While rare, this can cause serious health implications. Everything in moderation!

Be sure to consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any significant dietary changes.

Brazil Nut Uses

Brazil nuts are versatile superfood nuts. They can be used to make vegan mayonnaise, cheese, and milk! They provide a deliciously nutty flavor that is very mild and can easily be masked or enhanced with natural sweeteners, spices, or flavorings.

Brazil nuts can also be used to make dressings and dips like pesto or hummus!

And of course, as mentioned above they can be made into trail mixes with dried fruits and other nuts, or eaten plain or salted. A little goes a long way!

Soaking/Sprouting Nuts

In order to preserve the rich antioxidants and nutrients in Brazil nuts (and all nuts) purchasing them raw, balanced, or sprouted is best. If you buy raw, soak the nuts (2-4 hours for macadamia and 4-6 hours for Brazil nuts). The soak is also called sprouting or activating the nuts. This rule applies to grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, but the soaking times will vary!

In some cases, you may want to allow the nuts to air dry, sun dry, or use a dehydrator. If used in a recipe, you may not need to dry at all!

Soaking in warm or room-temperature water and a splash of apple cider vinegar helps to release the phytic acid, or anti-nutrients that coat the nut. These anti-nutrients prevent the absorption of nutrients and cause gastrointestinal disruptions. While it may be an extra step in the preparation process, it is a necessary one to ensure you are able to absorb all the nutritional goodness these superfoods have to offer!

Do you enjoy the delicious taste, benefits, and variety of uses of these nutty superfoods? Which do you prefer? Share with us in the comments below.

Healthy wishes,

Natalie

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  1. Angela says

    April 15, 2023 at 2:57 pm

    love macadamia nut though I now know they are really seeds (learn something new every day). I like to put them in Cookies 🍪.

    Reply
    • Natalie Perry says

      April 15, 2023 at 7:55 pm

      The cookies are my favorite, too!

      Reply
  2. Olga says

    April 15, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    I'm a big nut lover! I adore cashews and macadamia nuts. It is excellent that nuts are so healthy! But Im struggling to keep my day portions small.

    Reply
    • Natalie Perry says

      April 15, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      They are delicious and so good for you. Eat what feels right to you! I'm all about listening to your body

      Reply

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Hello there! My name is Natalie. My passion is creating and sharing healthy recipes, tips, and affirmations for a healthy mind and body. I am a wife, mom, certified holistic nutrition specialist, hypnotherapist, reiki master, and healthy food blogger! I enjoy learning, creating, and sharing healthy recipes that the whole family will love.

Since 2005 I began studying yoga, natural and holistic healing, nutrition, energy work, subconscious work, and more. I attended Southwest Institute for Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona, and received several certifications as well as a Mind Body Wellness Practitioner Diploma in 2017. I spent many years looking for solutions for pain, stress, illness, and fatigue. I found that prescriptions, poor lifestyle and food choices, and negative self-talk were causing me to stay stuck. Throughout my studies, I transformed my life. It has become my passion to share what I learned in hopes of helping others to heal themselves.

Over the years, I have discovered firsthand the impact of food choices on health, energy, pain, and more. I am here to share how impactful it is to eat clean, natural, nutrient-dense foods. I have spent several years learning and experimenting with healthier cooking and eating, and it feels amazing!

When learning new ways to eat, I found it often required reprogramming outdated thoughts and beliefs to succeed.

Meditation, guided imagery, affirmations, and setting intentions are powerful tools I incorporate into my recipes and blogs. I will often share suggested affirmations or intentions within my recipes that will help you to amplify your healthy eating experience if you choose!

Thanks for stopping in! We look forward to hearing how you like our recipes! Welcome to the tribe 🙂

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a close-up of two spoons, one with ivory macadamia nuts at the top and one at the bottom has brazil nuts with dark skins peeling off of it and a print at the top that says Benefits and uses with cursive print saying Macadamia a type print saying and and a cursive print saying Brazil Nuts at the bottom right says mindfullyhealthyliving.com in print