Skin Care on your Pizza?

Leave it to the good old American way of life to find a way to make your pizza healthier.  Due to its four good group content, pizza is often touted as “the perfect food” by guilt-ridden pie eaters. 

Well now they have even more reason to indulge in a cheese fest.  American researchers have recently discovered a way to increase the antioxidant content in pizza. Yes, antioxidants in pizza.

Antioxidants are a catch phrase today in terms of health benefits as they act as compounds combating those nasty old free radicals that put wear and tear on our body and organs.  Antioxidants play a housekeeping role so to speak by cleaning up the free radicals before they can do any damage to your body.  They protect key cellular mechanisms from damage by defusing the free radicals.  Today’s doctors and scientists are advising diets high in leafy green veggies, and fruits and whole vegetables to assist their body with antioxidant benefits. 

American researchers have discovered that there is a method to baking and fermenting dough that will increase the level of antioxidants in pizza.  The team hails from the University of Maryland and they have indicated to the American Chemical Society that the secret lies in longer baking times at higher temperatures.  Scientists examined the effect of a variety of baking conditions on the dough by cooking two varieties of whole grain dough, from two different kinds of wheat, at a range of temperatures from 400 F to 550 F at different baking times, between 7 and 14 minutes.  Results showed antioxidant levels increasing by as much as 60% during longer baking periods and by up to 82% at the higher baking temperatures.  These results were dependent on what kind of wheat flour was used, and what antioxidant test was performed.

Researchers also found that if the dough was left to ferment for longer periods, up to 48 hours, there was a significant increase in antioxidants.  This was attributed to chemical reactions produced by the yeasts. 

Researchers further suggested users try this on deep-pan pizza that may have the potential to deliver even more antioxidants compared to the thinner crust varieties.

To add to this antioxidant pizza news, the US Department of Agriculture has just discovered that some of our common herbs may contain higher antioxidant effects than the recommended fruits and vegetables. 

The herb that appears to have the highest antioxidant activity is oregano. It appears that weight for weight, oregano is going to have as much as 42 times more antioxidant benefits than an apple, 30 times more than potatoes, and 12 times more for oranges.  

Granted, it will take a lot of oregano to receive one apples effects, but this adds an interesting twist to the pizza notion.  Why not throw some oregano on your toppings and give yourself another antioxidant boost.

The notion that pizza can be good for your health is being criticized by the British Dietetic Association.  UK diet experts are saying even thinking pizza may be a healthy choice may cause people to choose more unhealthy toppings, and they would rather people stick to choosing the required five portions of fruit and veggies, rather than eat more pizza.  The concern voiced was the overall increased fat intake, and that this concept is not teaching a healthy eating lifestyle. 

While the concerns expressed by the British Dietetic Association are warranted, what they do not consider is that making pizzas healthier is simply an alternative to any current healthy eating style.  This food choice is not going to eliminate fruits and vegetables from the diet, but for the health conscious eater, it may add another option that may not seem as forbearing as some of today’s healthier choices. 

It is okay to cheat and splurge on a food treat once in a while, and with some forethought, anyone that makes their own pizza can make choices for it that are still considered healthy. 

Soy products as meat substitutes as well as low fat dairy products for the cheese toppings are just two examples of how one can add to the healthy pizza plan.  Keeping fruits and vegetables in the diet will also increase a given individuals antioxidant benefits, the healthy pizza is merely an alternative.  And better yet, antioxidants are also responsible for skin care and youthful glows.  Skin care on a pizza? Anything is possible.

 Best Wishes,

B. Lohan