Pizza is loved by people of many cultures and cuisines.
Even the pickiest eater will have to admit that the pizza’s irresistible dough, sweet tomato sauce, and salty mozzarella cheese are a winning mix.
However, it has a bad reputation as a whole since it is often rich in calories, salt, and carbohydrates.
This article compares the nutritional value of several pizza varieties and suggests ways to improve their healthiness.
Food Composition and Analysis
Pizzas have vastly different nutritional profiles and component lists.
The problem is that some brands include a lot of junk.
Pizza that has been frozen for later consumption
Frozen pizzas are a common go-to for busy families and college students alike.
There are few exceptions, but in general these foods are not healthy.
They’re often processed extensively, and that means they include artificial ingredients like preservatives, sugar, and bad fats.
Specifically, 1/4 of a Red Baron Classic Crust Pepperoni frozen pizza provides (1):
- Calories: 380
- Fat: 18 grams
- Carbs: 39 grams
- Sugar: 8 grams
- Sodium: 810 mg — 34% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
French bread styles and filled crust variants may add even more calories, especially if you choose toppings like sausage, additional cheese, and other high-calorie products.
Pizza Made to Order at a Local Pizzeria
Pizza from a restaurant, like frozen pizza, may include a wide range of ingredients and cooking styles.
While some pizza joints may not provide this details, many others do so for their customers.
Pizzas created from scratch are usually made with healthier components than those you may buy from a convenience shop or fast food restaurant.
Pizza joints often produce their dough from scratch using just basic ingredients like wheat flour and olive oil.
Toppings and sauces can make a big difference in a meal, and some places even make their own from scratch, using ingredients like fresh cheese and sugar-free tomato paste.
Be aware of your topping choices, regardless of whether you’re ordering frozen or fresh pizza, since doing so may significantly increase the calorie count of your meal.
The Fast Food Pizza Chain
The pizza you get from a fast food joint or a convenience shop is one of the unhealthiest options you can make.
Calories, bad fats, carbohydrates, and salt levels tend to be higher in these.
Two things can be said for certain about Pizza Hut’s Pepperoni Lovers Pizza after eating only one big slice (167 grammes):
- Calories: 460
- Fat: 26 grams
- Carbs: 37 grams
- Sugar: 1 gram
- Sodium: 900 mg — 38% of the RDI
Can Pizza Be Part of a Healthy Diet?
Some pizzas are harmful, while others, made with less additives, may really be rather healthy.
Possible Presence of Harmful Substances.
Most pizzas that aren’t created from scratch have fewer nutrients and more preservatives than those that are.
Preservatives, artificial colours, and harmful fats are just some of the things that may be found in frozen and fast food pizzas.
However, refined wheat flour is commonly used to make all pizzas.
This flour lacks the fibre found in whole-grain flours, making it a poor substitute for breading and other similar uses.
Several studies have shown a correlation between eating refined grain products (like pizza) and gaining excess weight.
Consuming more than 70 grammes of ready-made items like pizza per day was associated with increased belly fat, according to a study of 1,352 adults (7Trusted Source).
You Can Get Lots of Sodium, Sugar, and Carbs from Some of Them
Pizzas, in general, have a high calorie and sodium content because of the abundance of cheese, cured meats, and other calorie-dense toppings that are often used.
Furthermore, the dough, certain toppings, and some pizza sauces may all include additional sugar.
Red Baron Barbecue Chicken pizza, for example, has an astounding 21 grammes (4 teaspoons) of sugar in only one serving (1/4 pizza) (8).
It has been shown that eating refined meals with high levels of added sugar on a regular basis increases your chance of developing chronic diseases including obesity and cardiovascular disease (9Trusted Source).
Furthermore, the carb and calorie content of your slice will rise if you go for loaded crust or deep-dish pizzas.
Consuming fast food or frozen pizza once in a while probably won’t have any effect on your weight, but doing so on a daily basis might lead to weight gain and may raise the risk of chronic health disorders.
Some Dishes Can Be Good for You
Pizzas created with fresh, whole ingredients may be a healthy option despite the fact that many pizzas are loaded with calories, fat, and salt.
Simple ingredients like flour, yeast, water, salt, oil, tomato sauce, and fresh cheese are all that go into making a classic pizza.
Homemade pizza with only a few ingredients can be quite nutritious.
To improve the nutritional value of homemade pizza, try topping it with veggies or lean proteins like grilled chicken.
Healthy options, such as fresh vegetables and herbs, are available as toppings on many pizzas, and many pizza restaurants provide whole-wheat and gluten-free crusts.