Pizza is a continental food and, without a doubt, one of the world’s most popular dishes. You may put any kind of topping on pizza, like meats, vegetables, etc. In some instances, people also put fruit over it.
Pizza is delicious food that is liked by all. It can be created using many different sauces, toppings, and a large variety of cheeses. Even the dough that makes the pizza base can come from a variety of food materials like wheat, flour, etc.
Apart from being easy to make, the best thing about pizza is that it can be customized as per taste and food preferences. As today’s food market has a large number of vegan and vegetarian options owing to their health benefits, there are no limitations for pizza toppings.
Facts About Vegan Pizza
According to the study “Plant-based diets and metabolic syndrome: Evaluating the influence of diet quality,” published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, individuals suffering from metabolic syndrome may benefit from following a healthy plant-based diet.
A study published in The Scholarship, titled “Take small steps to arrive at a plant-based diet,” suggests the use of plant-based alternatives like nutritional yeast or fortified non-dairy milk and cheese to supplement your diet. It recommends eating a good amount of grains as well.
Another study titled “Protein Quality Changes of Vegan Day Menus with Different Plant Protein Source Compositions,” published in MDPI, states that amino acids are essential for the human body. As some major food groups are not consumed in a vegan diet, it is very important to understand which foods can help fulfill daily requirements. Most food products have advisories on the packaging, which should be studied before purchasing.
Is Vegan Pizza Healthier?
Veganism is becoming increasingly popular as people are becoming aware of their dietary choices and the overall influence it has on our environment, especially since the pandemic.
Veganism is not easy to adopt, but an increasing number of people are making it a way of life for health or social reasons.
Traditional Pizza isn’t known for being very nutritious, considering it contains a lot of cheese, which is high in saturated fats. Further, according to research, the sodium content of pizza and processed meats used as toppings are also linked to heart diseases.
So what about the vegan options?
Vegan cuisine is inextricably thought to be a diet that is dependent on the plantations, i.e., vegetables, fruits, plant-based milk, etc. This means no animal or dairy products. Vegan pizza, then, appears to be a healthier option compared to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizza.
Vegan pizza can integrate dairy-free cheese, has a nutritional yeast, and a wheat and cashew nut puree base. These ingredients are ultimately healthier. Vegan pizza options also have significantly less saturated fats. These fats are not good for health, and they increase the risk for high blood pressure or other heart disorders.
Can Vegan Pizza be Tasty?
Vegan pizza is a delicious invention that gives the food type a whole new meaning. If you can choose your toppings well, you can reap all its health benefits.
It is suggested that vegetarians have fewer health problems, such as constipation, diverticular disease, and gallstones. The chances of appendicitis may be reduced as well. With a vegan lifestyle, you can also lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases apart from these.
To offer more options, chefs experiment with fresh vegan pizza recipes for the base or get more artistic with the toppings. Vegan menus for pizzas are full of fascinating flavors, such as vegan pizza’s creamy alfredo sauce, butternut squash sauce, and even hummus!
Different toppings like spinach, artichoke, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and zucchini, to name a few, can add a twist of flavor and nutrition. Vegetables are nutrient-dense, containing a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
According to a study, vitamin C and A are commonly found in vegetables and are beneficial to the body’s healing process. They also keep the skin and teeth healthy and looking their best.
What are the Health Benefits of Vegan Pizza?
The following are the primary health advantages of vegan pizza:
- Blood pressure is maintained
One of the most important health benefits of eating less or no meat would be that your blood pressure may be reduced. High blood pressure raises your chance of developing heart-related diseases and disorders.
Vegetables play a critical role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disorders like strokes and heart attacks. Increased consumption of certain vegetables can also help prevent malignancies. Vegetables enhance your intake of fiber and potassium, both of which are important for cancer prevention. For instance, according to a study, consumption of high nutritional fiber is found to lower the risk of breast cancer.
- Diabetes is controlled
Another advantage is that it could lower your chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. According to a study, those who eat a plant-based or vegan diet a few times a week have a 35% lower risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity and cholesterol are kept under control
Cutting back on meat or eliminating meat can help with weight loss. Vegetables typically contain fewer calories than meat and are cholesterol-free. As a result, increasing your vegetable intake can help you minimize your calorie consumption, which is beneficial for weight reduction and maintenance.
Eating fewer calories also aids in slowing your metabolism, which has been related to the prevention of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Why is Opting for Vegan Pizza Good for the Environment?
Vegan pizza is not only healthy for the human body but also good for the environment. The study indicates that if we produced our crops directly for human use, we could serve an additional 4 billion people.
Conclusion
A growing body of evidence supports the health benefits of vegetarian and plant-based diets, which have been linked to lower rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer, as well as improved longevity.
Hence, eating vegan pizza is just about changing your lifestyle to better and healthier food habits. With all the available options, like whole grains, nuts, legumes, soy protein, etc., we can enjoy eating the Italian delicacy without harming our health.
References
Jardine, M. A., Kahleova, H., Levin, S. M., Ali, Z., Trapp, C. B., & Barnard, N. D. (2021, June 10). Perspective: Plant-based eating pattern for type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment: Efficacy, mechanisms, and practical considerations. OUP Academic. Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/12/6/2045/6296092
McGrath, L., & Fernandez, M.-L. (2022). Plant-based diets and metabolic syndrome: Evaluating the influence of Diet Quality. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 9, 100322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100322
Smil, V. (2002). Worldwide transformation of diets, burdens of meat production, and opportunities for novel food proteins. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 30(3), 305–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0141-0229(01)00504-x
Townsend, K. (2022). Take small steps to arrive at a plant-based diet. Kaitlyn Townsend. https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/handle/10342/10515
