Emma Miller
Pizza can be a healthy choice. Pizza is a favorite dish of many people around the world. The addictive combination of appetizing crust, sweet tomato sauce, and salty mozzarella cheese is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
However, the dish is usually labeled unhealthy because it can be high in calories, sodium, and carbohydrates. This article describes the most popular types of pizza and gives tips on how to make it healthier
Nutritional breakdown
The nutritional value and ingredients of pizza can vary greatly depending on the type. However, some varieties may contain unhealthy ingredients.
Frozen pizza
Often a staple for college students and busy families, frozen pizza is a popular choice for many people.
While there are exceptions, most are high in calories, sugar, and sodium. They are usually highly processed and contain artificial preservatives, added sugars, and unhealthy fats.
Choosing toppings such as sausage, extra cheese, and other high-calorie foods can increase the calorie content, while varieties of French bread and stuffed crusts can pile on even more.
Freshly made pizza
Like frozen pizza, pizza made in a pizzeria can vary in ingredients and cooking methods. Although the nutritional value of pizza is not always indicated, some pizza chains provide consumers with nutritional information.
Freshly made pizza often contains healthier ingredients than more processed pizza sold in stores and fast food restaurants.
Most pizzerias make their dough from scratch with simple ingredients such as olive oil and wheat flour. Depending on the restaurant, some use homemade sauces without added sugar, fresh cheeses, and other healthy toppings.
However, regardless of whether you choose frozen or fresh pizza, excess toppings can make it unhealthy, so be careful about your choices when eating out.
Instant pizza
Pizza sold in fast food restaurants and convenience stores is one of the unhealthiest options. It has the most calories, unhealthy fats, carbohydrates, and sodium.
In addition, instant pizza usually contains more ingredients than freshly made pizza, including monosodium glutamate, artificial colors, and high fructose corn syrup, all of which can negatively affect your health. They also often contain sodium, making them a poor choice for those who are sensitive to salt.
Is pizza a healthy choice?
While some types of pizza are unhealthy, others that are less processed can be nutritious.
May contain unhealthy ingredients
Like all foods, processed pizza often contains more unhealthy ingredients than pizza made from scratch. Frozen pizza and instant pizza may contain ingredients such as preservatives, colors, and unhealthy fats.
However, all pizzas, regardless of how they were prepared, are usually made with refined wheat flour. This type of flour is low in fiber and therefore less filling than whole wheat flour.
Eating refined grain products, such as prepared foods like pizza, has been linked to weight gain.
A study of 1,352 people found that people who consumed more than 70 grams of processed foods like pizza daily had more belly fat than those who consumed less than 70 grams per day.
Some types are high in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar
Most types of pizza contain a lot of calories and sodium, as they are usually topped with cheese, salted meat, and other high-calorie toppings. In addition, some pizzas contain sugar in the crust, some toppings, and sauces.
Regular consumption of refined foods rich in added sugar has been shown to increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. Moreover, if you choose a stuffed dough or deep-fried pizza, it will increase the number of carbohydrates and the total calorie content of your slice.
While eating a slice of fast food or frozen pizza once in a while will likely not affect your weight, eating these foods regularly can lead to weight gain and increase your risk of chronic disease.
Some recipes may be helpful
Although many types of pizza are high in calories, fat, and sodium, pizza made with fresh, whole ingredients can be a good choice. Traditional-style pizza is a relatively simple food made from flour, yeast, water, salt, oil, tomato sauce, and fresh cheese.
Pizza made from scratch using these limited ingredients can be quite healthy. When making homemade pizza, the nutrient content can be enhanced by adding nutrient-rich toppings such as vegetables or healthy protein sources such as grilled chicken.
Many pizza chains offer whole grain and gluten-free crusts, as well as healthy topping options such as fresh vegetables or herbs.
