🍕 Pizza & Cancer Risk: What You Need to Know

🔥 Burnt Crust, Processed Meats & Cancer Connections

Acrylamides & High Heat Cooking

Acrylamides form when carb-rich foods cook at high heat.

Charred pizza crust can contain acrylamides, PAHs, and HCAs — compounds linked to DNA damage and increased cancer risk.

Commercial pizza ovens often exceed 600°F, intensifying carcinogen formation.

Oven Temperature Snapshot

Wood-Fired (850–900°F): Neapolitan-style, ~90 sec cook time

Gas/Electric Deck (500–700°F): Common in pizzerias

Convection (450–600°F): Even cooking

Rotating/Conveyor (600–800°F): High-volume efficiency

✅ Actionable Tips

Avoid blackened crusts

Choose lightly baked or whole-grain bases

Try cauliflower or almond flour crusts to reduce acrylamide exposure

🥓 Processed Meats & Nitrosamines

Pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham = Group 1 carcinogens (WHO).

Nitrates/nitrites can form nitrosamines when heated — linked to colorectal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

Just 50g/day (≈2 bacon slices) = 18% increased colorectal cancer risk.

Healthier Toppings:
Chicken • Beef • Anchovies • Mushrooms • Spinach • Artichokes • Olives • Peppers & Onions

🍞 Refined Carbs, Blood Sugar & Insulin

Refined-flour crusts spike blood sugar and insulin, which may fuel tumor growth.

Chronically elevated insulin is linked to cancers such as breast, colorectal, glioblastoma, prostate, pancreatic, lung, ovarian, and endometrial.

Smart Swaps:

Whole-grain, cauliflower, or almond flour crusts

1–2 slices + salad (Palm Rule)

Skip sugary drinks — opt for unsweetened tea

🎯 Final Takeaway
Pizza isn’t “bad” — but frequent consumption of burnt crusts, processed meats, and refined carbs can elevate cancer risk.
Strategic swaps + moderation = safer, smarter enjoyment.

📚 References

National Cancer Institute: Chemicals in Cooked Meats

Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter: Processed Meats & Cancer

Crowe et al., Nutrients (2019); 11(11):2673

See full blog post for detailed citations → www.PrevailOverCancer.com

© 2025 Prevail Over Cancer LLC
Keith Bishop — Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist
📞 405-550-5383 | 🌐 www.PrevailOverCancer.com