In general, one to two servings of pizza a week is a reasonable amount. It is important to keep in mind that too much of a good thing can be unhealthy; pizza is typically high in sodium, saturated fat, and Calories.
Pizza can be added to the diet once a week instead of lunch or dinner. Nutritionists agree on the possibility of eating this food. Despite the high calorie intake, it is still an unprocessed food. A pizza is much better than a snack because it is prepared with fresh and genuine ingredients and baked in the oven.
But since pizza is still a source of saturated fat (about five grams) and chock-full of sodium, limit it to once a week and load up on those veggies.
Pizza is high in saturated fats due to cheese and processed meat toppings, which can increase your cholesterol levels as well as risk for heart disease. Eating three-four slices of pizza or more, on a regular basis, can have detrimental health consequences.
If you have two slices, it's not going to derail your progress, but swapping out one slice for a salad or other veggies could help stay satisfied longer — and save you extra fat and calories.
It won't even affect your weight. In the short term, your weight will only increase by the actual weight of the pizza, according to Angelone. (Only eating excess calories over time will contribute to fat gains, she adds.)
For many people following low calorie diets, “cheat meals” are a must. A cheat meal is essentially one planned meal (or meal deviation) a week where you can eat anything you want that you wouldn't normally eat as part of your diet — pizza, burger and fries, tacos, whatever you have a hankering for.
Americans eat an average of 46 slices of pizza per person each year, according to MayoClinic.com. While pizza can be healthy if you make it the right way, most of the pizza you buy counts as junk food because of the high amount of refined carbohydrates, fat and sodium it contains.
In fact, he says four days could be pushing it. Eating refrigerated leftover pizza beyond four days could cause you some intestinal turmoil.
Serotonin is produced from carbs
You'll be shocked to know that the carb-fest that is pizza actually fills you with serotonin. This is partially because when you're craving pizza and that craving is satisfied, your brain produces serotonin. This is also because carbs are used heavily to make serotonin.
Pizza Can Be Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
“Just about everything can be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle in moderation,” Dr. Cederquist says. Adding lots of vegetables to your pizza, pairing it with a side salad, and drinking plenty of water in between bites will help you avoid eating too many slices, she adds.
Pizza can be a healthy choice for many people. And yes, you can lose weight by eating pizza as long as you're eating it right! As surprising as it may sound, it's, in fact, true. You can have portion control, use selectively healthy vegetable toppings and make your pizza healthy.
Cheese and tomatoes have some of the highest natural levels of glutamate. Glutamate: an amino acid (one of the building blocks of DNA) is found in every pizza ingredient and is a critical component in giving pizza its flavor. Glutamate is found in protein-rich foods like wheat flour, cheese, meat and some vegetables.
However, with highly refined dough, heavily processed meat and extremely high calories, pizza is one of the unhealthiest junk food in the world. So better avoid it or make one at your home with healthy ingredients.
"But a thin crust pizza with tomato sauce, light cheese, and lots of veggie toppings, can create a balanced meal with a considerable amount of nutrients and fiber." Always look for a thin crust to keep calories in check, and pile on the veggies as well as lean protein if you need a larger meal.
Although low in total calories, a burger is higher in fat content than pizza slices. Regular intake of food rich in fats can lead to obesity increasing risk of lifestyle diseases such as heart conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
According to the USDA, if your pizza has been refrigerated at a temperature lower than 40 degrees fahrenheit, its safe to eat up to four days.
Three slices per adult and two slices per child offer a good base to start from when you're estimating how many pizzas to order. If you know in advance that you have guests with major pizza appetites, allow for one or two more slices per person, just to be safe.
A large pizza usually contains eight slices, while an extra-large pizza contains around 10. Following the same rule that an average adult will eat around three slices, a large pizza will feed around two adults or four children.
Do cheat days ruin your progress? A cheat day every once in a while will not erase weeks and months of consistent workouts and healthy eating. Cheat days can help keep you stay motivated long-term if you practice mindful eating.
Many people scoff at the notion that having just one cheat day per week will ruin their fat-loss efforts, but it absolutely can.
Cheating once in a week is the healthiest approach. That does not lead to weight gain and is even proven to be good for your metabolism. Studies even suggest that weekly cheat meals wards off feelings of deprivation and improve your ability to stick to your diet.