Nutritional Value Of Cheese Pizza

Although high in fat and sodium, cheese pizza contains many essential vitamins and minerals. One 8 oz. cooked frozen cheese pizza supplies 35 percent of the dietary reference intake, or DRI, for calcium and more than 25 percent of the DRI for iron. Standard percentages are listed for adults under age 50. The values may vary for children and older adults.

Calories

One 8 oz. cheese pizza contains 533 calories. These calories come from a combination of fat, protein and carbohydrates. There are 57.8 g of carbohydrates and 7.1 g of sugar in one 8 oz. cheese pizza, as well as 4.4 g of fiber. This is 15.7 percent of the DRI for fiber.

Fat

One frozen cheese pizza contains 24.4 g of fat, 8.5 g of which are saturated fat. The remaining fat is a combination of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat. Eight oz. of cheese pizza also contains 28 mg of cholesterol, which is nearly 10 percent of the maximum recommended daily allowance.

Protein

An 8 oz. frozen cheese pizza contains 20.6 g of protein, which is 45 percent of the DRI for women and 37 percent for men. This protein is composed of 18 different amino acids. Cheese pizza is especially high in both glutamic acid and proline. Glutamic acid is beneficial to the nervous system and aids in the metabolism of sugar and fat. Proline is important for healthy skin and connective tissue.

Minerals

Cheese pizza contains large amounts of many different minerals. One 8 oz. pizza supplies 77 percent of the DRI for selenium and 50 percent for copper. Eight oz. of cheese pizza also provides 56.5 percent of the DRI of iron for men and 25 percent for women, as well as more 20 percent of the DRI for calcium, zinc and manganese.

Sodium

While cheese pizza is high in many beneficial minerals, it is also high in sodium, which can contribute to health problems such as high blood pressure when consumed in large amounts. An 8 oz. serving of cheese pizza contains 890 mg of sodium, which is 37 percent of the maximum recommended daily allowance.

Vitamins

Cheese pizza contains both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. One 8 oz. pizza supplies 65 percent of the DRI for B-12, more than 40 percent of the DRI for riboflavin and more than 25 percent of the DRI for thiamin. An 8 oz. pizza provides more than 10 percent of the DRI for B-6 and folate, as well as more than 10 percent of the fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K.