Macadamia Oil Benefits + Side Effects

By Adriane Marie •  Updated: 08/03/22 •  8 min read
macadamia nut oil benefits and side effects

Health

Macadamia nut oil health benefits may include:

Macadamia nut oil is…

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Environment

Water footprint: likely high, it takes 9,063 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of nuts / 1,086 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of nuts

Carbon footprint: likely moderate, 2.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of tree nuts, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers

Destruction: low, macadamia nut oil is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.

Macadamia nut oil is…

Animals

Kills: none, macadamia nut oil production does not require any animals to be killed

Harms: none, macadamia nut oil production does not require any animals to be used

Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from macadamia nut oil production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat

Macadamia nut oil is…

Laborers

Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible

Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation

Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits

Macadamia nut oil…

Where do most macadamia nuts come from?

The world’s top macadamia nut oil exporting country is Germany, followed by Netherlands, Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, Spain, Sweden, Pakistan, India and Denmark.

The world’s top macadamia nut exporting country is South Africa, followed by Australia, Kenya, Germany, Malawi, Guatemala, Netherlands, USA, Brazil and Uganda.

Is macadamia nut oil nutritious?

Yes! Macadamia nut oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains the highest levels of Palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fat, than any other botanical source.

macadamia nut oil is gluten free.

glutinous foods have side effects but a gluten free diet can help

Is macadamia nut oil gluten free?

Yes, macadamia nut oil is gluten free. Macadamia nut oil does not contain gluten. Macadamia nut oil is a type of tree nut oil, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food. 

While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…

Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:

There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.

Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List

macadamia nut oil is a common food allergen: tree nuts.

side effects of common food allergens like milk, wheat, soy, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and crustaceans

Is macadamia nut oil a common food allergen?

Yes, macadamia nut oil contains a common food allergen: tree nuts. Many people experience allergic reactions to macadamia nut oil.

A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:

Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. 

Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.

Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List

macadamia nut oil likely has a high water footprint.

water footprints of food and products

Does macadamia nut oil have a high or low water footprint?

Macadamia nut oil likely has a relatively high water footprint compared to other foods.

What is the water footprint of macadamia nut oil?

It takes 9,063 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of nuts / 1,086 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of nuts.

Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?

How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?

We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.

Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List

macadamia nut oil likely has a moderate carbon footprint.

carbon footprints of food and food emissions

Does macadamia nut oil have a high or low carbon footprint?

Macadamia nut oil likely has a relatively moderate carbon footprint compared to other foods.

What is the carbon footprint of macadamia nut oil?

It takes around 2.0 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of tree nuts, a car driving equivalent of 5 miles or 8 kilometers.

When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…

But that’s not all!

It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:

Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List

macadamia nut oil is moderately sustainable.

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Overall, is macadamia nut oil eco friendly? Is macadamia nut oil sustainable?

Cabbage production is moderately sustainable.

A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.

Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.

macadamia nut oil is vegan.

benefits of vegan food to eat on a vegan diet which helps save animals

Is macadamia nut oil vegan?

Yes, macadamia nut oil is vegan. Macadamia nut oil is made from pressed macadamia nuts and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food. 

Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.

Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.

Go vegan for animals!

It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.

Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List

macadamia nut oil may have labor issues and human rights concerns.

benefits of buying fair trade, labor rights, human rights and workers rights issues

Is macadamia nut oil a product with labor concerns?

At this time there are no major concerns with macadamia nut oil production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!

It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.

Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized. 

Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even be experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death! 

Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation. 

Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards. 

We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade. 

Sources:

FoodData Central

Macadamia Nuts Oil in Nanocream and Conventional Cream

Macadamia Oil Supplementation Attenuates Inflammation

Adriane Marie

Hi, I'm Adriane, creator of HEALabel! I organize info for you to comprehensively see how purchases impact health, environment, animals and laborers. Stay aware because you care! Subscribe below to get my weekly newsletter with tips, new info and other ethical consumer insight.

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