10 Nutritious Toppings For A Healthy Pizza

Pizza is not a food most people associate with dieting. Many believe this dish tops the list of foods to avoid when trying to eat healthier or lose weight. However, you can experience the health benefits of pizza by choosing more nutritious toppings. The following are some of the most common healthy pizza toppings that can be found at most restaurants.

Red peppers

Red peppers provide a strong, sweet flavor as a pizza topping. Peppers are also full of vitamins, beta-carotene, and antioxidants. It does not matter which type of bell pepper you choose as a topping. Although red pepper is the most common choice, other varieties such as green, yellow, and orange also contain important nutrients.

Garlic

Garlic comes with a lot of heart-healthy benefits. Crushed garlic can add a lot of flavor as a pizza topping and it does not add many calories. Garlic also promotes good cholesterol levels and decreases your risk of heart disease.

Ham

Ham is a good protein choice for your pizza, as it is much lower in fat than crumbled bacon, ground beef, or sausage. There are approximately seven grams of fat in a three-ounce serving of ham. Protein is an important part of any pizza and ham is a great choice when looking at your other options.

Pineapple

Instead of planning to finish your meal with something sweet, consider having pineapple on your pizza. This sweet fruit can curb your cravings for sugary foods. One cup of pineapple contains one hundred percent of your daily recommended intake of manganese. This nutrient plays a key role in helping your body create energy from the food you eat and offers many other health benefits.

Spinach

Spinach is loaded with antioxidants and full of zeaxanthin, lutein, and iron. Zeaxanthin and lutein protect your eyes from macular degeneration, while iron serves to build your blood. There are also thirteen different flavonoid compounds found in spinach that help prevent cancer. Considering all these nutrients, spinach is perhaps the healthiest pizza topping available.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms add a boost of flavor and nutrition to your pizza with minimal calories. Mushrooms contain protein and they are recommended as a way to prevent prostate cancer in men. Mushrooms also provide a high dose of selenium to protect the body against free radicals.

Diced chicken

Diced chicken is a great source of low-fat protein. Having diced chicken placed on your pizza as a topping is quite different from ordering pizza with chicken in a cream sauce. When ordering diced chicken as a topping, you should make sure the restaurant understands how you want it.

Tomatoes

If you like white or pesto pizza, you would probably like sliced tomatoes as a topping. Even though your pizza likely has tomato sauce, you will be increasing the health benefits of the meal by adding fresh, sliced tomatoes.

Black olives

Black olives are full of unsaturated fats that lower cholesterol and fight heart disease. Olives also contain flavonoids and polyphenols. The fats contained in this topping will absorb the nutrients from the other toppings on your pizza.

Onions

Onions have a rich, strong flavor and not only add to the taste of your pizza, but offer you many health benefits. Onions help lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. These vegetables can also help reduce the risk of colon cancer due to their rich Vitamin C and fiber content.

Best pizza in Amarillo, Texas

Pizza Planet in Amarillo, Texas has been serving the area since 1974. Our pizzas are made fresh every day. We make our dough and sauces from scratch and we can build your pizza any way you want. Call us today at (806) 352-6666 or Contact Us via email with questions. You can also see our full menu online, including appetizers, desserts, and salads.