Nutritionally Pizza often gets a bad wrap because it gets categorized and lumped together with other fast foods. Some diets like the Atkins diet demonize pizza with their obsession with meat and aversion to carbohydrates all together. However, studies have found that the humble pizza pie can be considered a healthy meal.
Research, for example, has revealed that one of the key ingredients in tomato sauce is Lycopene. Lycopene is the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their vibrant red coloring. In addition to lycopene’s aesthetic appeal, when absorbed into the body it can dramatically fight against certain kinds of cancers and reduces heart disease.
Some nutritionists suggest ordering a vegetable pizza as a way getting more of the essential vegetables into your diet. They underscore that onions, which are high in sulfur, support a healthy heart. In addition, adding more veggies on top helps to round out that pizza slice into a full proper meal.
Now Pizza fanatics should not mistakenly take this as a chance to gorge themselves on endless meat-lovers and extra-cheese pies. In fact, health professionals recommend that diners watch their fat and salt intake closely. While cheese can be rich in calcium, it is often high cholesterol and saturated fat as well. As with most food, nutritionists strongly suggest practicing moderation when eating – even something as healthy as pizza.