Eating Italian pizza can ease joint pain. Tip for RA patients

The Mediterranean diet, which also includes pizza, is considered the healthiest eating model. Those who use it enjoy long life and good health. They are less likely to suffer from diseases related to the circulatory system, including atherosclerosis, but also from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Recent research, published in the scientific journal “Nutrients”, shows that eating pizza at least once a week can help reduce the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is important what ingredients the pizza was prepared from.

Healthy pizza – what ingredients to prepare it with?

The health-promoting effect of pizza depends on the products used in its preparation. They must be fresh and of good quality. These are the ingredients used to make traditional Italian pizza. It differs significantly from that eaten by the inhabitants of Western Europe and the United States, because it is often classified as one of the so-called junk food.

The nutritional composition of Italian pizza is well balanced. The dish contains carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. The basic ingredients used to prepare a healthy pizza are:

• mozzarella cheese – from cow’s milk, called “fior di latte” or from buffalo milk, called “mozzarella di bufala”,
• tomato sauce and “pomodorini” (cherry tomatoes) – whose thicker flesh and fewer seeds provide a sweeter taste,
• olive oil – mainly extra virgin olive oil)
• “lean” cake – usually prepared from type 00 wheat flour, water, salt and yeast.

Why is eating pizza recommended for rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease accompanied by joint pain. Its occurrence in the world is increasing, and in the Mediterranean countries it remains at a constant level. So the researchers decided to take a closer look at some of the components of their diet and examine their impact on the level of inflammation in the body. They took into account pizza ingredients that people in Mediterranean countries eat every day. It was emphasized that the experiment is only an introduction to further research in this direction. However, there are premises that allow us to draw conclusions that, for example, consuming mozzarella cheese, rich in protein, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, selenium and zinc, has a beneficial effect on health. Including it in your diet helps maintain a healthy metabolism and reduces inflammation in the body.

As scientists point out, achieving modest but real benefits from a healthy diet over time may be more important in the long run than looking for measures that will produce immediate, but not lasting, effects. They assessed that Italian pizza meets all the requirements for a healthy diet, and people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis should consider including it in their diet.

Sources:

• Nutrients

• Medexpress