It is always my intention to inform on healthy lifestyles and nutritional foods. Having looked at some research, I have decided to pull out ‘good’ comments about the foods we are all advised to avoid or restrict.
The healthy pizza is all in the making of it- Kathryn Borg
My beliefs have not changed. However, don’t let it be said I don’t look at both sides of the argument.
It is not very often you will find a pizza on the list of healthy foods, and suffering wheat intolerance myself, I certainly wouldn’t be seen eating one unless visiting a rather forward-thinking eatery that provides a wheat-free pizza, and considering what topping it included. The research alerted by Joanna Evans indicates that a pizza could cut the risk of cancer.
A study carried out in Italy, which involved 22,000 participants, concluded that regular pizza eaters had a significantly reduced risk of digestive tract cancers. Eating one portion, or more, per week resulted in a 59 per cent reduced risk of throat cancer. In addition, the risk of developing colon and rectal cancer also fell by 26 and seven per cent respectively (Eur. J. Cancer Prev., 2004).
As you can imagine, the key is in the topping on the pizza. An Italian pizza will provide a recommended healthy dose of tomatoes and olive oil and given that this contributes to the popular, healthy Mediterranean diet it would make sense.
The real fact is that both of these ingredients have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, whether they are on a pizza or not. Harvard researchers found that men who ate lots of tomatoes, and products made from tomatoes, reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 35 per cent (J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 1995). In addition, extra virgin olive oil is very well documented to have associations with lower-ing the odds of suffering any type of cancer (Lipids Health Dis., 2011).
The fact is that the making of the pizza is the crucial factor to a healthy meal. Those made in Italy have proved to be healthy. There are similarities here with curries made in India and Chinese food made in China.
They are all healthier and include much less preservative, additives and processed foods.
Traditionally, an Italian pizza is typically 20 per cent tomato, 20 per cent mozzarella and four per cent olive oil with less than 50 per cent crust. By contrast, pizzas made in the UK and the US contain more refined carbohydrates, are loaded with salt, preservatives and processed meat. A good point to remember: the healthy pizza is all in the making of it.
Eggs have had some really bad press in the past, mainly due to the cholesterol connection. More importantly, and a more unhealthy connection is the quality of the egg. Due to consumers requiring a true yellow yolk, additives have been added, chickens have been fed foods to change the egg content, which has prompted the sale of organic and free range eggs rather than processed eggs.
Recent studies have suggested no direct link between egg consumption and blood cholesterol levels (not surprising). In fact, finally, it has been agreed that eating eggs might actually be good for the heart. (Food Chem., 2011).
A recent laboratory study identified several peptides in boiled and fried eggs which act like blood pressure-lowering drugs. The researchers said the findings may have implications for cardiovascular disease prevention, including hypertension (J.Agric Food Chem., 2009).
The benefits of eggs do not stop there. They are a good source of antioxidants which include the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are known for their protective effects against macular degeneration and cataract formation (Food Funct., 2010).
Remember lutein is a very popular source of support for eye conditions and available in many foods. One study found that eating one egg each day for five weeks significantly raised blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin without raising cholesterol levels (J. Nutr., 2006). There is a wealth of research showing the benefits of eggs, including helping with weight loss.
Finally, let us look at chocolate. There are other foods I would like to look at. However, I have chosen the most popular foods for you to consider. Amazingly, chocolate is now gaining a reputation as a super food. This could be dangerous, as there is no doubt it is a comfort food too, so if not controlled this could all go pear-shaped (excuse the pun).
Various studies have suggested that eating chocolate can lower blood pressure, cut cholesterol and cut the risk of heart attack and stroke. Not all chocolate is created equally however.
Dark chocolate is considered good for the heart. The key is to eating one small square of dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids) every day according to research.
kathryn@maltanet.net