Pizza is generally seen by health experts as a negative choice when it comes to weight loss and healthy eating. As a food high in fat and cholesterol, nutritionists would not recommend a calorie-dense pizza if you are trying to lose weight. If you are a dedicated pizza fan, consider all the facts before biting into your next slice.
Significance
You get half the recommended amount of saturated fat for a day in two slices of cheese pizza, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The center notes that adding toppings such as sausage, pepperoni or extra cheese only make it less healthy. If you decide to eat pizza anyway, CSPI recommends to order less cheese on your pizza.
Considerations
The American Council on Exercise notes that for weight loss, most reputable health organizations suggest losing 1 to 2 lbs. per week. ACE recommends eating 250 fewer calories and burning 250 calories more through exercise each day, for a total of 500 calories lost in a day. As you can see, if you add 720 calories from two slices of Pizza Hut's Pizza Lovers pizza, it would be difficult to decrease your calorie intake by 500 calories that day.
Effects
In the most current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2,000 to 2,200 calories per day are recommended for a moderately active female between 19 and 30, and 2,600 to 2,800 for a moderately active male of the same age, along with maximums of 12 g of saturated fat and 136 mg of cholesterol. To put pizza into perspective, one medium slice of Pizza Hut's Meat Lovers' pan pizza has 360 calories, 7 g of saturated fat and 30 mg of cholesterol. Just one slice can amount to 18 percent of a day's worth of calories for an actively woman, along with 58 percent of the saturated fat, and 22 percent of cholesterol. Double that and you have already passed the day's recommendation for saturated fat and almost half a day's worth of calories.
Types
One slice of a healthier pizza from Pizza Hut, the 12-inch Fit n' Delicious Green Pepper, Red Onion & Diced Red Tomato option, has 150 calories and 1.5 g of saturated fat, which could fit into a healthy diet.
Solutions
While pizza is generally unhealthy, options include vegetable toppings, ham or chicken when choosing meat, avoiding cheese-stuffed crusts and to salad on the side, the CSPI notes.You have more control over what goes into your pizza if you make it yourself. Making a homemade pizza can be healthier than a traditional one, notes the Kidshealth website. Use a whole-wheat crust, part-skim mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, turkey pepperoni and vegetables. This pizza adds nutrients and is a balanced meal. Two slices have 175 fewer calories, 15 fewer g of fat, 6.4 g of saturated fat and 5 more g of fiber than a regular medium pepperoni thin-crust pizza. Another major factor is portion control. The fewer slices you eat, the fewer calories and saturated fat you will consume.
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