4 health benefits of pizza

The popularity of pizza is undeniable and there aren't many people who don't love it. We all have our favourite toppings, and it's actually pretty hard to find a "bad" pizza. Although some pizzas are healthier than others, and some grease-laden varieties are just downright bad for you, pizza does have a number of health benefits. Here are four of them.

It my sound obvious, but the health of a pizza depends mostly on its toppings. Although too much sausage and pepperoni may not be good for you, a vegetarian pizza loaded with tomato sauce, green peppers, spinach and artichokes can add up to an antioxidant-rich meal.

Antioxidants are well-known for their cancer-fighting and health-supporting properties.

Tomatoes are rich in a specific antioxidant called lycopene, which is believed to help prevent heart disease, among other health issues. Some studies have shown that lycopene-loaded foods are best metabolized when consumed with a bit of fat or oil, as this combination helps the intestines absorb the lycopene more efficiently.

Your tomato sauce-rich pizza will actually be better for you if you include some delicious mozzarella cheese melted on top.

Pizza is one of those foods best savoured with other people. If you're eating pizza with a fun group or with someone you love, you'll get a pleasant dose of oxytocin, the bonding hormone. Pizza can actually enhance your quality of life by promoting more positive socialization. So call up your friends and go get a couple slices.

When you eat a food you love, your brain and body are flooded with the "happy chemicals" of dopamine and serotonin. The pleasure centres in your brain light up, promoting enhanced well-being, gratitude and enjoyment of life. Have pizza in moderation, but when you do eat it, savour every bite with a clean conscious.

Common sense is the key to enjoying pizza. You probably shouldn't eat it every day, especially if it's loaded with double cheese and greasy meats. However, a slice now and then can actually do you some good, as shown by these four pizza health benefits.