Have you ever been asked what the most loving fast food in the world is? And Pizza will be among the few options that instantly come in your mind. That’s because it is a favorite food across the globe. In fact, the global food of the global village. We all have searched Pizza takeaway Near Me from time to time.
The addicting combination of delightful cheese, sweet sauces and crust make it a delicious choice. But, pizza is often labeled as junk food.
Is Pizza a Junk Food?
Well, the simple answer is yes and most of the time. It is considered unhealthy due to the high content of carbs, sodium and calories. Before we talk about why pizza is junk food, let’s address its basic types.
Pizza Types and Nutritional Breakdown
Ingredients and nutritional value greatly depend on the pizza type. Some carry more unhealthy ingredients than others.
Fast-Food Pizza
Pizza sold in convenience stores and fast-food restaurants is the unhealthiest choice. These have the highest amount of sodium, carbs, fats and calories. Artificial colorings and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are very high in amount. These also contain high-fructose corn syrup. Sodium packing makes them a bad choice for salt-sensitive people.
Frozen Pizza
Frozen pizza is very popular among working couples and college students. There are exceptions but usually frozen pizzas contain unhealthy ingredients. They carry a high amount of sodium, sugar and calories. Typically, these are highly processed with added sugars and artificial preservatives.
Topping options like extra cheese, sausages and other items add extra calories. Stuffed crust and French bread style add even more calories.
Freshly Made Pizza
Fresh pizzas also vary in preparation and ingredients like frozen pizzas. Such pizzas mostly contain healthier ingredients as compared to others. And though ingredients information is available, their content is never listed. Many pizzerias use simple ingredients to prepare their dough. Such as wheat flour and olive oil with homemade sauces.
Still, extra topping options can make a fresh pizza unhealthy. You should carefully select your add-ons keeping in mind their calorie content.
Why Is Pizza a Junk Food?
Now that we know what are the basic types of pizza. Let’s review its basic ingredients and their effects on your health.
Refined Carbohydrates
Generally, refined flour is used to make the crust of a pizza. This is the flour that is made from grains after removing their bran and germ. This process makes the wheat less nutritious. Minerals, vitamins and fibers present in the flour are lower down. This, in turn, increases the risk of abdominal fat.
Fat Content
For most pizza lovers, the most delicious ingredient is the cheese. But this highly saturated fat enhances the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. A normal 5-ounce pizza serving comprises of 18.5 grams fat. This value is 28% of the total daily fat value.
Surprisingly, 6.5 grams (around one third) of this fat is saturated. This is or 33% of the total daily fat value. Not to mention the meat which can increase these values.
Sodium and Sugar Content
We all know how sodium could increase high blood pressure risk. There are 675 milligrams sodium in a 5-ounce pizza slice. This is 29% of the recommended salt value for a day. Besides, a normal pizza contains around 21 grams of sugar in one serving.
