Don’t let the fact that pizza has a high calorie and fat content—many of its calories originate from the white wheat crust—get you down. We advise focusing on the positive, such as some of the real health advantages of pizza that make it worthwhile to grab a piece (though you might want to dab the oil with a napkin first):
- Pizza lovers had a 34 percent reduced risk of throat cancer, a 26 percent lower risk of colon cancer, and a 59 percent lower risk of esophageal cancer compared to persons who ate it less frequently than twice per week, according to studies. This is brought on by pizza’s extraordinarily high lycopene content. Tomatoes contain lycopene, but stewed or cooked tomatoes contain the most. These antioxidants, which have been shown to be extremely beneficial against many types of cancer, are very abundant in the tomato sauce that is used to make pizza.
- Antioxidant — Except for the lycopene in the tomato sauce, a lot of antioxidants are present in all baked wheat items. Since Chicago-style deep dish pizza bases has a thicker crust and spends longer time in the oven, it is especially high in antioxidants. In some situations, the longer baking time results in an 82 percent boost in the pizza’s antioxidant benefits.
- There is extremely little lycopene in a raw tomato, making lycopene absorption simpler. The amount of lycopene in tomatoes increases when they are stewed or cooked, yet lycopene is somewhat difficult for your intestines to absorb. Unless you include fat in the mix. If you put cheese on your pizza, your intestines will suddenly find it much easier to absorb all of the lycopene. The best course of action!
- Increase calcium intake Pizza is a wonderful source of calcium, did you know that? Every piece contains cheese, and your body may more easily absorb calcium when fat is also consumed. When you increase the amount of calcium in your diet, you turn on your body’s natural fat-burning mechanism and make sure it has everything it needs to get the calcium to your bones!
- Boost your protein intake. You’ll consume a lot of protein if your pizza includes the appropriate toppings. Although it does include some fat, cheese is a great source of protein. Additionally, there are many options for lean-protein toppings, and the Italians are renowned for breaking raw eggs over their pizza!
- The best kind of pizza to choose if you’re serious about your health but still want to eat is thin crust. Pizza with a thick crust contains a lot of white flour and dough, which can cause blood sugar fluctuations, overeating, and weight gain. Pizza can be a very nutritious food when prepared the proper way, the old-fashioned manner, using fresh, natural ingredients—not to mention one of the world’s most delicious dishes!