What is America’s favorite food?
If you said steak, tacos, Mac and Cheese, hotdogs or
hamburgers, you’re wrong.

So, what is it? It’s Pizza.
According to the pollsters, twenty-one percent of the American
population said that if they were given the option of having only
one comfort food for the rest of their lives, it would be pizza.

And if you’re from the “pizza is my favorite food camp”
there’s some good news for you.

What is it?
Pizza is good for your health.
No, that’s not a misprint, but there’s a catch to this statement
statement and that is, you have to put the right toppings on it.

Yes, loading your pizza up with 3 types of cheeses, sausage,
pepperoni, hamburger and/or bacon will certainly turn it
into a unhealthy liability, but adding some olives, green peppers,
onions and mushrooms to it will make it a health-enhancing,
youth giving and longevity extending superfood.

And if you want to know how topping like mushrooms, olives,
onions and tomato sauce will benefit your health, just continue
reading for those answers.

1) Cheese-
Depending on the type you buy, cheese can boost your moods.
Yes, the taste of it can put you in a better mood, but it’s the
combination of calcium and vitamin D that’s responsible for
the improved moods.
It (cheese) also contains tryptophan and tyrosine, stress-busting
amino acids that your body uses to produce calming serotonin and
happiness-boosting dopamine.
And one last benefit: Cheese contains all of the ingredients to
ease PMS symptoms. So, ladies, if your periods are painful,
perhaps adding more cheese to your diet is all the natural medicine
you need.
Important tip: Buy a top quality type of cheese, avoid the cheap
brands of mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack or Provolone.
Remember: your worth it, or more importantly- your health is worth it.

2) Green Peppers-
Peppers may not be a favorite of yours, but if excess weight is a concern,
then you may want to rethink that decision. Bell peppers are loaded
with immunity-boosting vitamin C, the vitamin that reduces cortisol,
the stress hormone that’s linked to belly fat.
And that’s not all- peppers also contain the amino acid-Carnitine,
which helps you burn more fat.
Important tip: You can buy red or yellow bell peppers as well,
as they all contain the same fat-fighting ingredients.

3) Onions-
If you’re past 40 or 50 years of age and you’re concerned about
bone loss or osteoporosis, then you must add onions to your
pizza and other dishes. Researchers have said that onions
may be better than milk at preventing bone loss and building bones.
Onions are packed with polyphenols, which boost production of
bone-building cells called osteoblasts.
Important tip: You may want to quickly sautee onions in a skillet
with a smidgen of oil and then add them to your pizza. Just to soften
them up a bit.

4) Garlic-
It belongs to the same family as onions and if you’re prone to
catching all types of colds and flu, then start adding garlic to
your pizzas. Garlic contains powerful antioxidants that make your
immune system impenetrable, which will certainly keep you
cold and flu-free throughout the year.

5) Olives-
Improve memory and your skin with olives.
Olives contain oleuropein, an antioxidant that shields against
memory loss. Plus, this same antioxidant blocks toxic proteins
from binding to synapses, which is how Alzheimer’s starts.
And for skin, the antioxidants in olives help protect your
skin from the ravages of stress, aging, poor diet and toxins,
helping it look youthful as you reach your 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Important tip: Yes, olive oil offers the same benefits, but it’s
best to use it (the oil) sparingly, as the calorie count can
quickly increase with a tilt or two of the bottle.
Or if you want to continue to use olive oil, just apply it to
your skin after washing your face or after a bath or shower.

6) Mushrooms-
Ladies, if breast cancer is something you think about or
runs in your family, then you may want to add mushrooms
to pizza, stir-fries, soups and stews.
Mushrooms contain compounds that suppress enzymes that
increase estrogen levels, too much of which are linked to breast
and ovarian cancer.
Important tip: No need to buy the expensive mushrooms,
(unless of course you want to) white button mushrooms
provide you with all of the benefits you need.
And one more tip: read or (reread) our past post-
The healing benefits of white foods, The White Superfoods!

7) Tomato Sauce-
It’s almost Summer season and if you’re a fan of sitting out and
getting some sun, then you may want to start adding more
tomatoes to your pizzas and other dishes.
Why? Tomatoes are the food equivalent to sunscreen,
(that expensive stuff that may not protect your skin).
Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives
tomatoes their bright red color; acts like a natural sunscreen,
preventing UV rays from breaking down the skin’s underlying
support structures, elasting and collagen
And there’s more- tomatoes like olives (oil) can keep your
skin wrinkle-free, and help prevent fine lines and age spots.
Important tip: When making sauce, remember to keep it as
healthy as possible. In other words- don’t add tons of salt or
fatty meats to it, to make it more flavorful.
Keep it simple, place some plain sauce on the pizza, some
herbs and a little oil and then the other (healthy) toppings.

That’s it- And remember- when shopping this week (or weekend)
bring this list along, so you’ll have a reminder of why you’re buying
that cheese, mushrooms and tomato sauce.

Sources:
* Susan Thys-Jacobs, M.D.
* The Journal- Nutrition
* American Journal of Clinical Nutrition