Can You Eat Pizza When Pregnant? (Tips for Consuming)

We all don’t care about our eating pattern, taking in all manner of foods from greens to junk as far as it tastes nice or was recommended by medical practitioners.

But all these impulsive eating habits stop immediately when we see those two lines on the stick. Being pregnant is a delicate situation that requires extra care for you and from you.

Can You Eat Pizza When Pregnant (Tips for Consuming) 2

Hence, you are charged with the responsibility of taking in food and drinks. Scientists have confirmed that babies can sense the flavors of the foods their mothers consume through the amniotic fluid. This has raised concerns for pregnant women about eating certain foods, like pizza, during pregnancy.

Is eating pizza safe for pregnancy?

Is eating pizza safe for pregnancy

According to Dr. Anita Sabherwal Anand, a special gynecologist and obstetrician at Sitara said that the safety of eating pizza during pregnancy cannot be amassed to a definite YES or NO.

This is because the eating pattern differs from person to person. Dr. Anita said that pizza is one of the best available options for pregnant women with low appetite in their first stages of pregnancy, this is recommended for minimal to moderate consumption.

But this advice is also disregarded for pregnant women with health issues such as obesity or gestational diabetes. Overweight pregnant women are required to keep a certain level of weight during pregnancy for the safety of their baby, foods like junks or pizza will be discouraged by the gynecologist.

Similarly, women with a history of diabetes or women who are currently pregnant with diabetes will have to discuss with their food educators and nutritionist on the plans to eat pizza, as this may have a significant alteration of your insulin level.

This will in turn alter your doses and may keep your baby in danger.

Is pizza on the whole dangerous for pregnant women?

Pizza as a whole food is certainly not dangerous for pregnant women, but some factors and ingredients can potentially harm pregnant women with weak immune systems.

Ideally, it is not 100% safe to consume pizza but one cannot avoid some of the guilty pleasures of life even during pregnancy. Here are some parts of pizza which includes crust and toppings and their effects on pregnant women;

The Crust

The Crust

Whether you eat thin crust pizza like Brooklyn pizza or thick crust pizza like the New York pizza, there is one thing common with these crusts, which is fat and oil.

According to one of the most popular health and fitness blogs TODAY, the average pizza crust contains roughly 50 calories. This is one crust alone out of the twelve in the box excluding the toppings or sauce.

The average pregnant woman is expected to consume healthy calories ranging from 1800-2400 calories per day.

There is a big concern on whether the cheese or a particular type of cheese should be consumed or avoided.

Cheese

Cheese

Pizza crusts are always made with cheese or/and Mozzarella. But what kind of cheese is advised for a pregnant woman? Generally, cheese is made using unpasteurized milk.

But according to the Health Line, most cheese found on the counters of the United States are safe for consumption, so it is safe to say cheese like cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, colby, ramano, ricotta, and any cheese made with pasteurized goat or cow milk is safe for consumption.

Cheese that is soft, blue-veined, or bacteria ripened are to be avoided such as brie, feta, pamela, or cheese you can find in the deli or special aisle store. This is because these are made with unpasteurized milk containing a high strain of bacteria which can cause food poisoning.

Pepperoni

Pepperoni

What is a pizza without pepperoni, pepperoni is the jelly to the peanut butter of pizza. But what do we know about this delicious topping?

Pepperoni is a type of salami made from beef or pork trimmings then heavily spiced with chili, paprika, and other spices. It is often cured raw using preservatives and even nitrates.

Well, that doesn’t sound healthy, with a considerable amount of heat it should be to the average human. Before eating pepperoni, ask about your nitrate allergic hypersensitive level from your gynecologist, if you are safe it is okay to eat pepperoni.

But ensure that it is sizzling hot as most cured deli meat is known for its high content of bacteria and toxoplasmosis. Make sure the cured meat has passed through a very high temperature capable of killing all the bacteria.

Bacon

Bacon

Bacon is one of the most popular pizza toppings, but this unprocessed, nitrites treated beef has its advantage and disadvantage, as a type of raw meat, it might have originally been contaminated with bacteria which can cause food poisoning.

But eating a strip of bacon that has passed through a heat level of 72-80°C is safe for eating in minimal amounts.

Since bacon is a fatty food, minimal to moderate consumption should be followed as scientists discovered the linkage of fatty foods to high weight gains in babies’ development. This can lead to tears during vaginal childbirth.

Fruit and Vegetable Toppings

Fruit and Vegetable Toppings

Fruits and vegetables are the perfect toppings choice for pregnant women if they have been passed through high heat.

But if they are raw, there is a cause of worry due to contamination of listeria and another toxoplasma, if you intended on ordering a Hawaiian pizza also known as the Ham and pineapple pizza, it is safe to eat so fast as they have been heated properly.

If the pizza is raw, there may be a need for concern. Other toppings like mushrooms and spinaches must be washed thoroughly and cooked under heat high for safe consumption.

There are rumors surrounding pineapple and pregnancy, the bromelain enzyme in pineapple is not strong or high enough to cause any damage to the pregnancy.

Home-made Pizza

Home-made Pizza

If you considered taking a break from commercial food-chain merchandised like Pizza hut, Arby’s, or Dominos and you intend on making something original and safe, there are some guidelines to follow and they include;

  • Use Less Cheese: It is best to use lesser amounts of cheese and use Mozzarella, this is because Mozzarella melts easily and that small amount can create a wide spreading.
  • Make sure the pizza base is thin rather than thick.
  • If you still intend on making a dough base, make sure it is whole wheat-based. Consider using wheat flour that is made from grains and fruits to all rising flours as they are not healthy.
  • Create a healthy pizza base by steering away from the traditional dough base and opt for more healthy tortilla bases
  • If you intend on totally avoiding bacon, there are other bacon alternatives present in the market such as turkey bacon which contains less fat and calories, or soy-based kinds of bacon which can be made at home by marinating tofu in spices.
  • Instead of making fat or meaty pizza toppings, use more vegetables instead.
  • When baking, make sure the heat is very hot to kill every bacteria that escaped washing.

This YouTube video shows how you can make a homemade vegetarian pizza. Why not get into the kitchen and make some, plus it counts as a workout!

Tips for pregnant women consuming pizza.

  1. Whenever you eat more than 4 slices of pizza, it is advised that your next meal should be calorie-free or calorie-less. This means less fried food and more nuts and vegetables to balance out your diet. It is also advised to work out immediately after eating pizza to burn out some of the eaten calories.
  2. Ensure your cheese is made with pasteurized milk because pregnant women are ten times more likely to catch diseases than an average human because of their weakened immune system which has been shared between her and her developing baby.
  3. Although pepperoni contains 140 calories, 0.5 grams of sodium, 13 grams of fat, and 5 grams of saturated fat and protein each, it is advised to avoid constant consumption of it and other lean beefy products should be considered.
  4. Invest in blotting papers to absorb oils from pizza rather than consuming them as a whole.
  5. Eat fewer slices and complement them with a vegetable salad to balance out the diet.
  6. When ordering, ask for the type of cheese used. Most commercial food chains use pasteurized cheese which is safe but some done in restaurants use unpasteurized ones.

Bottom Line

It is okay to eat pizzas during pregnancy as one or two fats here and there cannot cause potential harm to the baby. Consistent overconsumption is bad as it can lead to several health issues for you and your baby due to your weakened immune system.

If your nutritionist goes against the consumption of pizza, kindly adhere to the instructions as your health condition may not be suitable for it. Several vegetarian pizza options can serve as alternatives to traditional pizza. These types are delicious and are made with plant-based ingredients.

Can You Eat Pizza When Pregnant (Tips for Consuming) 1

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