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Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans: How Do They Compare?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between macadamia nuts and black beans, foods from the grains and legumes food groups. Read on to learn more about the macadamia nuts vs black beans comparison.
Catherine Toledo, Journalist

Written by Catherine Toledo, Journalist. Updated on March 9, 2023.

Although macadamia nuts and black beans belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.

While macadamia nuts belong to the nuts and seeds group, black beans belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares macadamia nuts and black beans, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.

Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.

Now, let’s see how macadamia nuts and black beans compare specifically.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts (Macadamia spp.) are native to Australia and are now grown in many tropical regions worldwide.

These nuts have a creamy and slightly sweet flavor and are often used in sweet and savory dishes.

Macadamia nuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to have various health benefits.

There are many ways to incorporate macadamia nuts into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often used in baking or as a topping for salads and other dishes. Macadamia nuts are also available in various forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

Macadamia nuts are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores.

They are often sold roasted or raw and can be purchased with or without the shell. It is important to store macadamia nuts in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh and prevent them from going rancid.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving macadamia nuts a try. They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Macadamia Nuts is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin E.

Black Beans

Black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a type of legume that are native to Central and South America.

They are a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to their high protein and fiber content and rich, nutty flavor.

Black beans are also a good source of antioxidants. They have been shown to have a number of potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain types of cancer and helping to lower cholesterol levels.

They are easy to incorporate into a wide range of recipes and can be enjoyed in dishes such as black bean soup, burritos, and salads.

Black Beans are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin K.

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing macadamia nuts vs black beans.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of macadamia nuts and black beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Macadamia NutsBlack Beans
Energy718 kcal341 kcal
Carbs13.8 g62.4 g
Sugar4.57 g2.12 g
Fiber8.6 g15.5 g
Protein7.91 g21.6 g
Fat75.8 g1.42 g
Saturated Fat12.1 g0.366 g

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Calories

Comparing black beans vs macadamia nuts for weight loss, black beans are slightly lower in calories, with 341 calories per 100 grams, compared to 718 calories per 100 grams of macadamia nuts.

However, both macadamia nuts and black beans can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including macadamia nuts and black beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Black Beans offer around 63% more protein than macadamia nuts.

Black Beans have 21.6 grams of protein per 100 grams, while macadamia nuts has 7.9 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in macadamia nuts and black beans.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 78% higher in black beans than in macadamia nuts. They have 62.4 grams per 100 grams, compared to 13.8 grams in macadamia nuts.

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There’s less sugar in black beans than in macadamia nuts, 54% precisely.

One handful of black beans (28 grams) contains 0.6 grams of sugar, while the same amount of macadamia nuts contains 1.3 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in macadamia nuts and black beans.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 4.3 grams of fiber per portion, black beans are a better source of fiber than macadamia nuts which offer 2.4 grams per portion.

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Fats

Fats in macadamia nuts and black beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in macadamia nuts and black beans:

  • Macadamia Nuts: 75.8 grams per 100 grams
  • Black Beans: 1.4 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, black beans are 97% lower in saturated fats.

Black Beans and macadamia nuts contain 0.4 grams and 12.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of macadamia nuts and black beans.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Macadamia Nuts has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), and vitamin K.

However, black beans have a higher amount of vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B3 (Niacin), and vitamin E.

Macadamia Nuts and black beans contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins macadamia nuts and black beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Macadamia NutsBlack Beans
Vitamin A017 IU
Vitamin C1.2 mg0
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)1.2 mg0.9 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.162 mg0.193 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)2.47 mg1.96 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.758 mg0.899 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.275 mg0.286 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)11 µg444 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E0.54 mg0.21 mg
Vitamin K05.6 µg

Macadamia Nuts vs Black Beans Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the macadamia nuts and black beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Macadamia Nuts is a better source of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc than black beans.

On the other hand, black beans are a higher amount of manganese, and selenium.

Macadamia Nuts and black beans contain the same amount of fluoride, and sodium.

Check out the table below to learn how macadamia nuts and black beans compare when it comes to mineral content.

Macadamia NutsBlack Beans
Calcium85 mg123 mg
Copper0.756 mg0.841 mg
Fluoride00
Iron3.69 mg5.02 mg
Magnesium130 mg171 mg
Manganese4.13 mg1.06 mg
Phosphorus188 mg352 mg
Potassium368 mg1480 mg
Selenium3.6 µg3.2 µg
Sodium5 mg5 mg
Zinc1.3 mg3.65 mg

The Final Word

Macadamia Nuts and black beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both macadamia nuts and black beans are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.

Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.

Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.

Sources

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