What Type Of Pizza Should You Order While Pregnant?

Are you pregnant and craving a big slice of pizza-pie? Are you wondering what type of pizza will be best for the health and wellness of you and your unborn child? If so, read on for 3 tips for ordering pizza when you've got a baby on board. 

Skip The Processed Meat

Listeria is a harmful bacteria that infects 2,500 people annually. It's naturally found in soil and water, and on animals that frequently come in contact with untreated soil and water like cows, pigs, and poultry. 

Listeria is a very hardy bacteria; refrigeration will not kill it. Thoroughly cooking infected meat will kill the harmful microorganisms, but since pizza is cooked very quickly and at a very high temperature, it's best not to risk it if you're pregnant. Pregnant women are more susceptible to infection and once infected, risk having a miscarriage or stillbirth. 

Choose The Right Cheese

Unpasteurized soft cheeses are also prone to listeria bacteria. Avoid queso fresco, feta, brie, and any blue-veined varieties. When you're eating pizza for 2, it's best to keep it simple and order it topped with mozzarella cheese or a cheddar/mozzarella blend. 

Dodge Heartburn-Inducing Veggies

More than half of pregnant women report suffering from heartburn while carrying their unborn child. The hormonal changes your body goes through during pregnancy can cause your lower esophagus to relax, thus allowing a back-flow of stomach acid. Your expanding abdominal region also contributes to the problem, pushing on your stomach from below and causing the acid within it to rise into your throat. 

Some vegetables, such as onions, garlic, broccoli, and cauliflower are big triggers for heartburn. Their high-fiber content makes you feel full and relaxes your esophagus even more than it's being relaxed by your changing hormones alone. You may want your pizza stacked to the hilt with all the fresh veggies the pizza parlor has, but you're likely to regret it when you later feel that burning sensation rise up in your throat.

If you have to have veggies along with your pizza, opt for fennel or celery; both have high water contents and are extremely easy to digest. Another option is to have a side salad of leafy greens to take the place of the veggies on your pizza.

To further stave off heartburn, eat your pizza slowly once it arrives. This will give your body plenty of time to digest the food and keep your stomach acid levels low.

Keep It Healthy

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, your diet during pregnancy not only immediately affects the health of your baby at birth -- it also affects the long-term health of your child and lowers the risk of him or her developing some diseases later in life.

When you're with child, it's important to try your best to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. There is much debate about whether or not pizza can be considered healthy. In fact, the nutritional value of a pizza really depends on how it is prepared.

To get the healthiest take-out pizza you can order, ask for thin or whole grain crust. Between 1 and 3 percent of pregnant women develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) during pregnancy and white flours can drastically spike your blood sugar levels. To cut down on fat and calories, request that the pizza maker go light on the cheese. 

If you're pregnant and craving a treat from your favorite pizzeria, go ahead and make the call to order one. With the above 4 tips you can get the best possible pizza for the health and wellness of yourself and your unborn baby. To read more about the options you have when ordering a pizza, follow the link in this sentence.