Perhaps you may have heard many people say that eating pizza is unhealthy.
However, that is not entirely true.
Pizza is not as unhealthy as some may have claimed because it has been discovered that eating it can lower the risk of developing cancer.
According to Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Milan, eating pizza at least once a week can help lower the risk of esophageal, colon, and mouth cancers because they contain a pigment called lycopene.
Lycopene, which is frequently found in pizza tomatoes, has been found to have a link to fewer health risks for cancer, stroke, and osteoporosis.
What is Lycopene?
Lycopene is a type of carotenoid that consists of various types of pigments occurring in synthesized plants, photosynthetic bacteria, and algae. They are frequently present in fruits and vegetables.
Lycopene is an effective antioxidant that can help safeguard your cells and lower your risk of contracting serious diseases like cancer. Additionally, according to Healthline, it lowers the risk of having a heart attack.
Thus, making pizza a healthy food to consume. Especially when it’s rich in vegetables and tomatoes.
Pizza has lycopene.
Most pizzas have tomatoes and tomato sauces on their toppings such as Pizza Margherita.
Lycopene is much better absorbed when tomatoes are cooked, a tablespoon of sauce contains at least 2,000 mcg of lycopene. That is at least one-half cup of cherry tomatoes!
What else is healthy in the pizza?
Most pizza has cheese as a topping, which also contains 12 grams of protein. According to the National Academy of Medicine, adults should at least eat 12 grams of protein.
However, everybody requires different amounts of protein. To ensure the right amount of protein, it is best to consult with your dietitian for accurate results and requirements.
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