Pepperoni pizza is a popular food choice for a quick lunch, a party, late nights at the office or for your Friday night takeout. Pepperoni is typically made with a mixture of fatty pork and beef, salt, spices and preservatives. It adds flavor to your pizza, but it also contributes calories, saturated fat and sodium to your meal.
Nutrition Facts
If you're like many people, you'll eat more than one slice of pepperoni pizza in a sitting. Three slices from a 12-inch Papa John's Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza has 800 calories, 48 grams of total fat, 15 grams of saturated fat and 1,860 mg of sodium. Two slices of a medium Domino's Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza contains 780 calories, 37 grams of total fat, 15 grams of saturated fat and 1,940 mg of sodium. In contrast, three slices of Domino's Hand Tossed Cheese Pizza without pepperoni has 516 calories, 14 grams of total fat, 6 grams of saturated fat and 1,470 mg of sodium.
Saturated Fat
Both the pepperoni and the cheese on a pepperoni pizza contain unhealthy saturated fat. Saturated fat raises the level of harmful LDL cholesterol in your blood, which builds up in your arteries and increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Your saturated fat intake should be limited to 7 percent or less of your daily calorie total, according to the American Heart Association. Those who eat 2,000 calories a day should limit their saturated fat intake to 16 grams, or about 145 calories worth.
Sodium
Pepperoni and other processed meats are loaded with sodium. Excess sodium can lead to fluid retention and high blood pressure, increasing your risks for heart disease, congestive heart failure and kidney disease. The recommended upper limit of sodium intake per day is 2,300 mg for most adults and 1,500 mg per day for middle-aged adults, African-Americans and those with diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
Pepperoni pizza offers calcium and protein from cheese, vitamin-rich tomato sauce and carbohydrates, but the sodium and saturated fat are still serious drawbacks. Minimize the damage by exercising portion control -- enjoy just one slice and have a salad with low-fat dressing to help fill you up. Consider substituting pepperoni with meats lower in fat and calories, such as grilled chicken or Canadian bacon. Substitute fresh vegetable toppings, such as red, green and yellow bell peppers, mushrooms, tomato slices and broccoli, to increase your pizza's flavor and nutrition.
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