It’s Friday night, and you’re so tired from the work week that you can’t bear to cook. It’s time to head to the computer and order your favorite pizza from your local pizza joint. You might feel guilty about ordering pizza instead of cooking for yourself, but you don’t have to!
Pizza may not be the perfect meal for people who worry about the impact of food on their health, but it actually has quite a few benefits for your health! Need some convincing? Read on to learn about the health benefits of pizza!
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Pizza Is Loaded with Energizing Carbs
Pizza might vary from city to city, but they all have one thing in common: crust. Whether you prefer New York’s thin-crust or Chicago’s deep-dish pies, you’re going to get a meal served up with a healthy dose of carbs.
Carbs are a critical component of every single person’s diet, even people who are are watching the number of carbs they eat. They’re basically your body’s version of gasoline. By default, your body will utilize carbohydrates to fuel your body and all of its functions.
The more active you are, the more carbohydrates you need to include in your diet. You’ll notice that many marathon runners fuel up the night before a race with a meal packed with carbohydrates. Those carbs give the runners the energy they need to complete their race, hopefully in record time!
Lycopene for Your Heart
There are many different types of sauces that you can put on top of your pizza, but nothing beats the classic: a solid marinara sauce.
Long before the pizza makes it to your plate, a farmer plucks perfectly ripe tomatoes from a vine that’ll find their way into that sauce. You might think of tomato sauce as a delicious base, but it’s actually loaded with all of the health-boosting benefits that come along with eating tomatoes.
The most important component of those benefits is the fact that tomatoes are packed with lycopene, a nutrient that gives tomatoes their color and also has antioxidant properties. These properties help protect your heart and reduce oxidative stress in your body.
Next time you check out the Wise Guy’s menu, be sure to pick a pizza topped with marinara sauce. Your heart will thank you for it!
Get Your Veggies
You have limitless choices for toppings when it comes to pizza. While there are definitely some weird choices out there, the most common options are bright and colorful veggies!
Everyone knows that a healthy diet is one that includes a diverse array of fruits and vegetables. What better way to get in your daily requirement for veggies than putting them on a pizza? Sprinkle on some olives, toss on some bell peppers, and load it up with tomato and onion.
The limit does not exist when it comes to veggie toppings. Well, unless you’re a fan of pineapple on pizza, that’s not a vegetable.
It’s a Great Source of Protein
You’ve got your carbs, you’ve got your fiber-rich veggies, the last thing you need for a perfectly balanced meal is protein. Good thing pizza is a great source of protein, too!
One of the biggest sources of protein on your pizza is the cheese on top. When you combine that with other options like chicken, pepperoni, or ham, you’ll have more than what you need to feel satiated.
It Can Be Customized for Your Needs
Everybody has different needs and nutritional requirements. One of the greatest things about cooking or ordering pizzas is that it can be adapted to meet your individual health needs.
For example, vegetarians can swap out the meat toppings for veggies and cheese. Vegans can opt out of animal products and order their pizza without cheese or with vegan cheese.
Watching your carbs? Gluten intolerance? Not a problem!
Order your pizza on a gluten-free crust or swap the traditional crust out and get one made out of cauliflower. The possibilities are endless when it comes to pizza.
Don’t Forget the Mental Benefits
Eating pizza isn’t just good for your physical health, it’s also a great way to boost your mental health.
Ordering pizza is something that many people do when they’re having a social gathering or a party. You know when you put your order in at your local restaurant that something special is getting ready to arrive at your home. This is a major boon to your mental health, and it can make you feel better overall as you bond over delicious food.
The fact that pizza is super delicious helps, too. Everything about eating it evokes major feelings of contentment that come along with eating comfort foods. That’s hard to pass up.
Boost the Bennies on Your Pizza
If you love pizza and want to enjoy it on your journey to good health, then there are some changes you can make to your order to achieve your goal.
Opt for leaner meats like chicken or ham over things like pepperoni, sausage, and bacon. Increase your fiber intake by adding extra veggies on top of your pizza and getting a whole wheat crust. You can also reduce your calories by going light on the cheese or getting rid of it altogether.
Surprise! The Health Benefits of Pizza Are Limitless!
When you think about it, the health benefits of pizza shouldn’t be a big surprise. They combine several elements of a healthy meal: carbs, fiber, and protein. Apart from all the health-promoting ingredients you can toss on top, they also benefit your mental health, especially when eaten with a group of loved ones!
Making the transition to a more health-centered lifestyle can seem like an overwhelming task. You’re bound to have lots of questions about what’s good for you and what isn’t. Check out the rest of our blog for answers to all of your questions!
