Throw ground beef and heaps of cheese on any pizza and you'll make it less than healthy. However, pizza in itself doesn't have to be an unhealthy meal. In the case of white pizza, the base is served with no tomato paste underneath the toppings. Though this potentially cuts out high-sugar processed tomato paste, it doesn't necessarily lead to a healthier pizza. The healthiness of your white pizza depends on what you put on top.
White Pizza Dough
The body tends to process the sugars in white flour products faster than unrefined carbohydrates. Eating lots of white flour dough can contribute to insulin spikes in the body, resulting in more fat storage. White flour also lacks fiber, though it is usually enriched with B-vitamins and minerals. Eating lots of white pizza dough, particularly deep-pan versions, could trigger weight gain. However, using wholegrain flour in your white pizza dough makes it healthier. Whole grains contain more fiber and break down slower in the body.
Unhealthy Toppings
Some of the least healthy white pizza toppings include pepperoni, bacon and other cured meats. More than 43 percent of pepperoni is made of fat, a third of which is saturated, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. Saturated fat can lead to circulation problems and heart disease. Cured meats also contain high salt content, which can lead to hypertension. Putting lots of cheese on a white pizza raises the fat content, including saturated fat depending on the cheese type. For example, 13 percent of whole milk mozzarella is made up of saturated fat.
Healthy Toppings
The right toppings make white pizza healthy. Increased vegetable intake means a lowered risk of heart problems, reduced blood pressure, improved digestion and reduced risk of some forms of cancer, according to Harvard School of Public Health. Healthy topping ideas include capsicum, spinach, mushroom, zucchini, onion and fresh herbs like basil. Using low-fat cheeses such as light mozzarella, or simply reducing the amount of cheese on your white pizza, also helps keep the fat content down.
Considerations
A white pizza with wholegrain base, minimal cheese, vegetable, fish and olive oil instead of full-fat dressing makes a relatively healthy meal. It contains complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, calcium, polyunsaturated fats, protein and omega-3 fatty acids if you choose oily fish like mackerel or fresh tuna. The lack of tomato sauce may encourage extra cheese toppings, which usually adds unhealthy fats to the pizza. A recipe by Martha Rose Shulman in the "New York Times" suggests using caramelized onions, roasted peppers or fennel in place of tomato sauce as a healthy and flavorsome alternative.
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