Were you to draw up a list of health foods would pizzas be on it? Well, based on scientific research, the Italian dish has emerged as a healthy dietary alternative with further news that it may help play a role in protecting against some forms of cancer. As expected we’re not talking about the fully loaded fat-laden cheese extravaganza you get in the large high-street eateries. The wholesome alternative can be discovered at the more discerning eateries such as Clapham pizza restaurant ‘ECO’.
The food facts
Let’s examine a few of the facts. Typically, a large slice of pizza from the big chain eating houses includes around 300 calories (a meat lovers’ slice can push 480!). Now consider that you get about eight slices and the calorie count hits four figures. Ever purchased a takeaway and found it slopping around within the cardboard box? That will be the high levels of fat. Ever felt incredibly thirsty after consuming a takeaway pizza? That’ll be the high levels of salt. So, you can easily consume most of your daily calories in a single sitting and fall the wrong side of your daily salt intake. Not good for health.
The major culprits are cheese, the oils used for cooking, meat toppings (in particular pepperoni which is 80% fat) and the dough base. While the dough includes carbohydrates, which play a role in the digestive system, it is typically made with unhealthy high gluten flour and the carbohydrates in the bread and crust change into sugar and eventually into fat.
Hopefully you are beginning to realise how too much of a bad thing is…well, bad. But there’s no need to reject one of life’s pleasures, you just need to “takeaway” a different approach. And as one of the good Clapham takeaways, ‘ECO’ ticks each of the right boxes.
The healthy option
So how is it possible to get a healthy munch on with a portion of your favourite flat-bread? Health professionals say the base must be light and contain whole wheat flour to maintain a healthy digestive system. ECO create the lightest and healthiest base in Clapham (and for that matter, all of London and the UK). Ingredients must be fresh, particularly the tomatoes used in the sauce, and cheese should be low-fat.
A recent survey of more than 8,000 Italians by Milan’s Institute of Pharmacology found that people who eat healthy pizza several times in a week reduced their risk of disease in comparison to those who had never eaten it. According to the results, the likelihood of developing throat cancer was reduced by 60%, colon cancer by 26% and oral cancer by 30%.
Scientists put this down to the constituents – tomatoes, olive oil, vegetables, garlic, spices and herbs – that have antioxidants such as ‘lycopene’ that are shown to assist in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer. An additional study by Manchester University scientists suggests that pizza can also cut the chance of skin cancer.
Guilt free eating
Next time you fancy buying pizza in, or perhaps dining out Italian style, look for a restaurant like ECO in Clapham who take the time to ensure the food you eat not only tastes great, but is also made with ingredients that are good for your health.

By: David Craythorn

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