Đến thăm vườn mắc ca của ông Nguyễn Đức Ba (Thạnh Mỹ, Đơn Dương, Lâm Đồng), nhiều nhà khoa học tỏ ra ngạc nhiên trước một cây mắc ca cho trái to tương đương quả trứng gà.
Vườn mắc ca của ông Ba rộng khoảng 7 sào (0,7ha) với hơn 2.500 cây mắc ca được trồng cách nay 10 năm, hiện cho năng suất gần 20kg/cây.
Như những vườn khác, hơn 2.500 cây mắc ca trong vườn nhà ông Ba cũng chỉ cho trái có kích cỡ khoảng bằng ngón chân cái người lớn, trái nào “đột biến” to lắm cũng chỉ bằng quả bóng bàn. Song, trong vườn có một cây cho quả có kích cỡ to bằng quả trứng gà. Không chỉ lác đác một vài quả, một vài chùm hay một vài vụ, mà vụ nào cây mắc ca này cũng đều cho quả to như thế cả.
Theo nhiều người đã ghé thăm, cây mắc ca này của ông Ba cho quả lớn nhất ở Việt Nam hiện nay; trên thế giới cũng khó tìm một cây mắc ca nào cho quả với kích cỡ như thế.
Ông Nguyễn Đức Ba cho biết, cây mắc ca có quả như quả trứng gà ấy lúc đầu cũng được ông ươm giống, trồng và chăm sóc như mọi cây khác. Chứng kiến cây mắc ca cho quả gấp đôi bình thường, nhiều nhà khoa học đã đề nghị ông Nguyễn Đức Ba nên nhân giống để tự trồng và cung cấp cho bà con nông dân trong vùng.
Eating nuts on a regular basis has a positive effect on the health. These sweet, creamy, crunchy, and luxurious nuts are more often than not thought of as high fat indulgence rather than health food. But Macadamia contains a range of nutritious and health promoting nutrients that make them an important part of our daily diet. A balanced diet containing macadamias promotes good health, longevity and a reduction in regenerative diseases.
1. Heart disease:
Macadamia are 100% cholesterol free and are highly beneficial to reduce cholesterol level (2). These nuts are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats which are said to be cardio protective by reducing cholesterol level and help to clean the arteries. Macadamia also lowers the level of triglycerides, which is a kind of body fat and reduces the risk of coronary disease.
2. Antioxidants:
Another health benefit of macadamia comes from their high flavonoid content. Flavonoids, which are found naturally in these plants help to prevent cells from damage and protects from environmental toxins. These flavonoids convert into antioxidants in our body (3). These antioxidants search and destroy free radicals and protect our bodies from various diseases and certain types of cancer which includes breast, cervical, lung, prostrate and stomach cancer.
3. For weight loss:
People usually avoid eating macadamia thinking that it is laden with fats and cholesterol. However, the fat in macadamia is monounsaturated fats which promote weight loss (4). Macadamia nuts are rich in palmitoleic acid, and omega 7 fatty oil that provide building blocks for the enzymes and control the burning of fat and curb the appetite. Palmitoleic acid increases fat metabolism and reduces fat storage. Their fatty acids content makes them an extremely satisfying food and you will need only a handful to feel satisfied.
[ Read: Cashew Nut Health Benefits ]
4. Proteins:
Macadamias contain significant level of protein which is an essential component of our diet and forms muscles and connective tissues in our bodies (5). Proteins are a part of our blood and act positively on our health. They also help to maintain the health of hair, nails and skin.
5. Dietary fiber:
Macadamias contains around 7% of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber comprises of complex carbohydrates (6) and includes many types of soluble and insoluble fiber. Dietary fiber promotes satiety, provides roughage, aids digestion and assist in reducing constipation and several other disease related to it.
6. Bone health:
Phosphorus in macadamia plays a variety of roles including bone and teeth mineralization, metabolism, absorption and transportation of nutrients. Calcium also helps in the formation of teeth and bones (7). Manganese in macadamia helps the body to deposit new bone tissue, so that the skeleton stays strong as you age. Omega 3 prevents osteoporosis and reduces the severity of arthritis.
7. Promotes brain health:
Macadamia promotes health of the nervous system. Copper in macadamia helps to make neurotransmitters, the chemicals which our brain cell uses to send chemical signals
Macadamia is a genus of four species of trees indigenous to Australia and constituting part of the plant family Proteaceae. They are native to north eastern New South Wales and central and south eastern Queensland.
