Frozen pizza is tasty, convenient, and usually inexpensive. It's also proof that not all that glitters is gold, even though it's the start of the frozen food aisle.
Frozen pizza, it turns out, is far worse for you than we first imagined because of its high levels of saturated fat, sodium, and processed carbs.
While frozen pizza is a convenient and tasty supper option, it's vital to eat it in moderation and study the nutrition label so you can pick one that's not as harmful as the rest.
Continue reading to learn more about the dangers of frozen pizza.
The obsession with frozen pizza.
It's no surprise that frozen pizza — or frozen foods in general — are so popular. Frozen and prepared meals are being consumed at an increasing rate due to their price and convenience. According to an industry survey, frozen pizza sales are expected to expand dramatically between now and 2025.
According to the study, there has been a recent innovation in cryogenic technology, allowing frozen pizza, baked items, and bread. To put it another way, frozen meals are here to stay, which is why we need to know what to look for when buying frozen pizza.
What is in a frozen pizza?
The extraordinarily high sodium level of frozen pizzas is one of the most prevalent denominators. Take DiGiorno Pepperoni Frozen Pizza with Rising Crust, for example. You eat 760 mg of salt in just one dish, which is around 1/6 of the pizza.
In only a few slices of California Pizza Kitchen Sicilian Frozen Pizza, you'll consume 980 milligrams of salt, which is 43 percent of your daily recommended amount!
The fat calories, particularly those from saturated fat, are the next thing you'll notice. The fat content of the DiGiorgno pizza is 12 grams, with 5 grams of saturated fat. The one from California Pizza Kitchen, on the other hand, includes 17 grams of fat, 8 of which are saturated.
Frozen pizza also contains more refined carbs, which are usually enriched white or wheat flour. On the other hand, refined carbs can be problematic since they have been processed to the point where they have lost a lot of their nutritional content, including fiber.
What does this entail in terms of your health?
Consuming processed meals heavy in sodium, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates regularly might be damaging to your health.
Too much-saturated fat, for example, can boost your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and too much sodium can cause high blood pressure. Unfortunately, both of these health issues might raise your risk of heart disease and stroke.
According to a study from Missouri Medicine, a diet high in refined carbs can increase your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
How to eat frozen pizza more healthily.
Pizza fans, thankfully, do not have to say goodbye to frozen pizza forever. Although you should avoid brands high in sodium, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates, the frozen food aisle has a variety of "healthier" selections.
For example, Amy's Margherita Pizza, lower in saturated fat and sodium than other popular brands.
Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, recently stated in an article that one of her favourite frozen pizzas to buy is Alex's Awesome Sourdough. Even though it's still heavy in sodium and saturated fat, it's made using real sourdough bread, which has been shown to improve intestinal health.
If you like to buy the name brands you love, portioning out your slices—and serving your pizza with a robust side of vegetables, such as a side salad or chopped-up vegetables—is an easy way to enjoy these pizzas still while staying healthy. This increases the fiber content of your meal, making you feel full and preventing you from overeating.