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Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons): How To Choose?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons), foods from the nuts and seeds group. Read on to learn more about the macadamia nuts vs pine nuts (pinyons) comparison.
Dennis Gillett, Health & Fitness Writer

Written by Dennis Gillett, Health & Fitness Writer. Updated on January 2, 2023.

Macadamia Nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) belong to the nuts and seeds food group, an important group for a healthy diet, as they provide a wide range of essential nutrients, such as protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

In this article, we’ll put a spotlight on macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) and compare their similarities and differences.

They both provide a variety of nutrients and are relatively high in calories, like other nuts and seeds.

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 are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

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

Pine Nuts (Pinyons)

Pine nuts, also known as pinyons (Pinus spp.), are the edible seeds of certain species of pine trees.

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

Pine nuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and different vitamins and minerals. They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate pine 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. Pine nuts are also available in various forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

Pine 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.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving pine nuts a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Pine Nuts (Pinyons) are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) 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 pine nuts (pinyons).

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral contents.

Macadamia NutsPine Nuts (Pinyons)
Energy718 kcal629 kcal
Carbs13.8 g19.3 g
Fiber8.6 g10.7 g
Protein7.91 g11.6 g
Fat75.8 g61 g
Saturated Fat12.1 g9.38 g

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons), so you should consume them in moderation.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a proper serving is one ounce, which is roughly equal to 1/4 cup or 28 grams.

To keep the portions under control, the amounts correspond to one serving size: 14 walnut halves, 16 cashews, 24 almonds, 28 peanuts, or 45 pistachios.

Comparing pine nuts (pinyons) vs macadamia nuts for weight loss, pine nuts (pinyons) are slightly lower in calories, with 176 calories per serving, compared to 201 calories per serving of macadamia nuts.

However, both macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight. It’s just important to eat them in moderation.

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) Protein

Nuts and seeds, including macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons), are an important source of plant-based protein.

Pine Nuts (Pinyons) offer around 31% more protein than macadamia nuts.

Pine Nuts (Pinyons) have 11.6 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 3.2g per serving), while macadamia nuts have 7.9 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 2.2g per serving).

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) 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 pine nuts (pinyons).

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 28% higher in pine nuts (pinyons) than in macadamia nuts. They have 19.3 grams per 100 grams, compared to 13.8 grams in macadamia nuts.

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There’s less sugar in pine nuts (pinyons) than in macadamia nuts, 100% precisely.

One handful of pine nuts (pinyons) (28 grams) contains 0 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 pine nuts (pinyons).

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

With 3 grams of fiber per portion, pine nuts (pinyons) are a better source of fiber than macadamia nuts which offer 2.4 grams per portion.

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) Fats

Like the other nuts and seeds, fats in macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, naturally cholesterol free, and free of trans fats.

Total fat in macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons):

  • Macadamia Nuts: 75.8 grams per 100 grams
  • Pine Nuts (Pinyons): 61 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, pine nuts (pinyons) are 22% lower in saturated fats.

Pine Nuts (Pinyons) and macadamia nuts contain 9.4 grams and 12.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons).

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

Macadamia Nuts have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

However, pine nuts (pinyons) have a higher amount of vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin E.

Macadamia Nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) contain the same amount of vitamin D, vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), and vitamin K.

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Macadamia NutsPine Nuts (Pinyons)
Vitamin A029 IU
Vitamin C1.2 mg2 mg
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)1.2 mg1.24 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.162 mg0.223 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)2.47 mg4.37 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.758 mg0.21 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.275 mg0.111 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)11 µg58 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E0.54 mg0
Vitamin K00

Macadamia Nuts vs Pine Nuts (Pinyons) 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 pine nuts (pinyons) comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Macadamia Nuts are a better source of copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc than pine nuts (pinyons).

On the other hand, pine nuts (pinyons) have a higher amount of calcium, iron, phosphorus, and selenium.

Macadamia Nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how macadamia nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) compare when it comes to mineral contents.

Macadamia NutsPine Nuts (Pinyons)
Calcium85 mg8 mg
Copper0.756 mg1.04 mg
Fluoride00
Iron3.69 mg3.06 mg
Magnesium130 mg234 mg
Manganese4.13 mg4.33 mg
Phosphorus188 mg35 mg
Potassium368 mg628 mg
Selenium3.6 µg0
Sodium5 mg72 mg
Zinc1.3 mg4.28 mg

The Final Word

Macadamia Nuts and pine nuts (pinyons) are highly nutritious and excellent sources of plant-based protein and healthy fats.

Although they are relatively high in calories, they are essential to a healthy, plant-based diet and are linked to many health benefits.

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

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods, and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Sources

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