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There's no better way to treat yourself than by enjoying a slice of pepperoni pizza. In fact, it's a food that we're craving almost every day! But, health experts say that your pepperoni pizza slice may be doing more harm to your body than good. Here's why you may want to find another food to have for dinner tonight:
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1. One slice can have a lot of calories
According to Cosmopolitan, one large slice of pepperoni pizza can contain at least 310 calories. That's not totally terrible if you're just eating one slice, but most people always eat at least 2 slices per sitting!
2. Pepperoni adds a lot of fat
"A 1-ounce serving of pepperoni contains 12.3 grams of fat, of which 4.2 grams are saturated," according to SFGate. If you're having more than one slice, you could be doing some real damage to your waistline.
3. It adds a lot of sodium, too!
There can be at least 463 milligrams of sodium in a 1-ounce serving of pepperoni. This high number then gets added to the sodium from the cheese, sauce, and extra toppings in your pizza, which can have 675 milligrams of sodium on its own!
4. The pepperoni may be processed
Most commercially-prepared pizza chains use some seriously unhealthy toppings on their pizzas, including low-quality pepperoni that is high in fat and low in nutrients.
5. The cheese isn't good for you either!
Cheese is the best part of a pizza, but all of that ooey-gooey cheese is actually loaded with saturated fat. "Each 5-ounce serving of cheese pizza contains 18.5 grams of fat, or 28 percent of the daily value for fat. Saturated fat makes up about 6.5 grams of this fat," according to SFGate.
6. The crust is made with refined carbohydrates
Carbs are actually good for your body, but only when they're whole grains that haven't been bleached and stripped of their nutrients. Pizza dough is typically made with refined flour, which increases your risk for abdominal fat.
7. The grease isn't doing you any favors
Notice how greasy your pizza is sometimes? Well, it turns out that all of the grease is loaded with cholesterol that will ultimately end up clogging up and hardening your arteries.
8. There may be preservatives in your pizza, too!
Pizza chains may use preservatives in their dough and sauce to extend its shelf life, enhance its taste, and maintain their brand's desired texture and color. Make sure that you're not consuming unhealthy preservatives by checking out the ingredients list of your favorite pizza chain before ordering!
9. Too much pepperoni pizza can cause heart disease
All of that saturated fat from the pepperoni and cheese can cause your harmful LDL cholesterol levels to increase, which can lead to heart disease. The Harvard School of Public Health says it can also cause Type 2 diabetes, depression, cognitive decline and infertility, too!
10. Pepperoni pizza can make you bloated?
We know that there's a lot of sodium in pepperoni pizza, but we didn't realize how bad it is for the body. Consuming large amounts of sodium regularly can cause hypertension and water retention! Plus, there's also the increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
11. There are nitrates in pepperoni?
Cured and processed meats like pepperoni usually contain nitrates, which are used to preserve the meat, enhance its flavor, and protect it from bacterias. "Consuming large doses of nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, a type of anemia that prevents your hemoglobin from carrying oxygen," according to the University of Minnesota. And, it can also increase your risk of cancer!
