With these tips, the pizza is healthy for the heart – healing practice

Make heart-healthy pizza

Pizza is popular with young and old. But the dish, originally from Italy, also has a rather bad reputation when it comes to the Health goes. Because of the most commonly used ingredients, high consumption can increase the risk of obesity and various diseases. But with the right ones tips you can have a pizza too heart healthy prepare.

A pizza with a high-carb crust and high-sodium toppings is not doing your heart any favors. Julia Zumpano and Fawziah Saleh, nutritionists in preventive cardiology, share in a recent contribution from the Cleveland Clinic (USA) shared five helpful tips for making a delicious, heart-healthy pizza at home.

Easily modded

While pizza is already something of a “staple” for some people, it has a reputation as an “unhealthy” food, says Zumpano, “but the great thing is that pizza is light modified can be made to be better for your heart and still very filling.”

Start with a healthy soil

Give your pizza a whole grain base for a healthier intake fiber to increase. Keep carbs down by choosing (or making) a thin base. Read the ingredients on store-bought floors and avoid any with hydrogenated oils. Try these healthy options:

• Thin whole grain base
• spelled flour base
• Wholemeal Pita
• Wholemeal tortilla
• Cauliflower pizza crust

Choose a healthy sauce

Heart-healthy sauces can be a good source of monounsaturated fats and vitamins. Avoid cream-based sauces like alfredo or white sauce, and steer clear of barbecue sauce, which is high in sugar and sodium contains.

Tomato sauce: If you want to enjoy the pizza traditionally, opt for a fresh tomato sauce or choose a canned tomato sauce with no added salt. These options are high in fiber, vitamins C and K, potassium, and manganese.

Olive oil: A thin layer olive oil can also be used as a sauce. Add some mashed up to this heart-healthy monounsaturated fat garlic to improve flavor and give your health a boost with its antioxidant properties that help keep blood vessels flexible, control blood pressure and prevent atherosclerosis.

Pesto: Elevate your pizza with pesto, which is also packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Pesto is a mix of basilgarlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, pepper and olive oil.

Sofrito Sauce: Mix together the heart-healthy ingredients for a delicious sofrito sauce. onions and garlic in olive oil and add freshly chopped tomatoes or pesto.

Use cheese in moderation

All cheeses contain saturated fat and sodium, so handle with care. Whenever possible, choose natural cheeses (like feta, fresh mozzarella, or ricotta) or low-fat, low-sodium cheeses.

Cheeses that you can try and that will help increase your intake calcium and increase vitamin D include low-fat shredded cheese, thin slices of semi-skimmed mozzarella, or fresh mozzarella.

Alternatively, you can also try pizza without cheese. You can choose dairy free cheese or no cheese at all and have them with you nutritional yeast To take.

Choose healthy toppings

Vegetables and fruits contribute more nutrients to your pizza than any other ingredients, and they liven up the flavor and add some color to your dish. Some favorites are:

• paprika (packed with vitamins C, B1, B2, B6 and folic acid)
• onions (good for fiber and vitamin C)
• Mushrooms (add B vitamins and vitamin D)
• tomatoes (get a dose of fiber, vitamins A, C and K, potassium and manganese)
• olives (for vitamin E and a serving of healthy fat)
• leafy greens like spinach, arugula or Kale (boost your absorption of vitamins A, K and C, potassium, fiber and calcium)
• pineapple (perhaps one of the more controversial toppings and not for pizza purists, but a good source of vitamin C and manganese and for those who want to add a sweet touch to their pizza)

Choose lean proteins

Of course, a veggie-topped pizza can fill your tummy with vitamin-packed foods. But if you’re after something protein search, choose wisely. Processed meats like sausage and ham or salami are high in sodium, saturated fats and nitrates.

“The best way that nutritional value Elevating your pizza is cutting out processed meats that are high in calories and unhealthy fats”, says Zumpano. Try chicken, turkey breast, shrimp, or tofu instead.

Tips for a healthy takeaway pizza

For those who have the opportunity to have more choice when it comes to pick-up or delivery, Zumpano and Saleh offer these tips to maximize the nutritional value of your pizza Take along to increase:

• Order thin or whole grain floors
• Put one main emphasis on vegetables
• Ask for light cheese. A good rule of thumb is to ask for half the normal proportion of cheese
• Try vegan Pizza (no cheese, no meat) and sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top if you like

“Most pizzerias offer a large selection of bases and toppings that can help keep your pizza healthy yet delicious”says Saleh. “Don’t be afraid to ask!” (ad)