MACADAMIA NUT OIL

Macadamia integrifolia

The Macadamia tree is native to the Queensland region of Australia, where it is also known as 'Bushnut'. However, Australians failed to see the commercial potential of this delicious and healthy nut. In 1881 it was brought to Hawaii, where it became very popular and Hawaii soon became the worlds leading producer of this nut. For a long time it remained a relatively obscure delicatessen snack food, but recent interest in health conscious eating has stimulated more in-depth research. Macadamia nut oil turned out to have one of the best overall vegetable oil profiles in terms of nutrition and due to the prevalence of monosaturated fats its stability is excellent. It is rich in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and makes a great choice both for cooking in salads and as nutritional supplement.

The overall composition of Macadamia oil is quite similar to human sebum, which makes it an excellent choice as massage oil and for aromatherapy skin care products. It contains Palmitoleic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the skin sebum composition. However, as the skin matures it the composition changes and Palmitoleic acid is reduced. Thus, supplying it in the form of a nourishing oil can help the skin to maintain its youthfulness. Macadamia nut oil is easily absorbed by the skin and may be used on all types of skin including very sensitive areas e.g. around the eyes.

Macadamia nuts have long been one of the most important food sources of Australia's aborigines. The nuts have a very high caloric value thus providing ample nutrition. However, they are also very hard to crack. There is no information available on the role of Macademia nut in aborigine mythology. Nuts generally are regarded as tokens of health, fertility and prosperity.