This is good for you pizza that tastes UH-MAZING. It’s free of grains (yes, all grains), gluten, dairy, and sugar. It’s SO GOOD, you won’t miss any of these things. And if you start eating foods free of these things, you’ll start to notice a dramatic difference in the way you feel. Why?
Here’s a short answer (after all this is a recipe post):
Grains impact even a slightly compromised immune system. Many Americans suffer from some form of auto-immune stemming from the Standard American Diet (SAD). The National Institutes of Health reports 23.5 million Americans suffer from a form of autoimmune disease, but some think that number is closer to 50 million. There are at least 80 to 100 different diagnosable autoimmune diseases worldwide, and more are being studied and diagnosed every single day.1
On top of this, most people living with auto-immune are not even diagnosed because their symptoms are varied and complex (like depression, arthritis, digestive issues, brain fog, fatigue, and the list goes on and on). So add all those to the numbers and you begin to get the idea–the Standard American Diet (SAD) is making us sick.
Gluten is a problem, friends. It’s just a protein found in most grains that acts as a binder–BUT we’re used to it and we LIKE it. It’s in all the things–things like bread and doughnuts (and pizza crust). It makes these things stretchy and fluffy. We think stretchy and fluffy is where it’s at–but it costs. Here’s the problem: it tells the body to attack itself in individuals with any degree of auto-immune. The immune response then goes into high offence, attacking innocent cells it thinks are a threat–it results in inflammation2 (which, as mentioned above, shows up in a lot of different ways from mild to severe brain fog, skin rash, arthritis, fatigue, depression etc.).
Inflammation is the precursor to chronic disease. It’s also progressive–and depending on what cells your body is attacking, eating foods that are well known to contribute to immune system dysfunction is simply not worth it if you ask me.
According to Dr. Mark Hyman, Dairy is nature’s perfect food — but only if you’re a calf. There is a lot to this topic, but in short: dairy is not tolerated well by most people, and is known to contribute to chronic inflammation in the body. There are a lot of great ways to sub dairy out in recipes (another post for another day), so you can still enjoy your food and ditch the dairy.
Sugar. Oh my. This is a touchy one isn’t it? It’s pretty much everywhere in the SAD (and it is). It’s in treats, but also in processed foods of every kind including condiments and drinks. It’s SO emotional! Have you ever asked yourself why? I have personally been accused of not letting my kids “be kids” by limiting sugary and processed foods. People want to eat their sugar and they want you to join them!
It’s no wonder, really. Sugar is worshiped on the altar of immediate happiness in this country. But it’s a temporary fix, and at high cost to our health. It is making us sick.
Most Americans consume more sugar in one meal than the body can possibly process in a healthy way. Anything that can’t be used immediately for energy, is stored as sticky fat. Cravings for more of that sweet sensation begin as soon as the sugar high goes away–only minutes after consumption. Add to that the fact that we are constantly bombarded by media (and most of the people in our lives) with the notion that sugar is the best thing in the world and makes all so happy (this is imprinted in us from the formative years of childhood).
We create entire meals and holidays around sugar, it’s in all our snacks and condiments, AND it lights up the brain like a Christmas Tree right after consumption–it’s as addictive as heroin. Too much sugar (more than 10% of our diet) leads to fat storage and disease. Friends, in my opinion, it’s just not worth it.
I know EVERYONE doesn’t suffer from a compromised immune system–or at least many will argue wheat, gluten, dairy, and sugar have no adverse effect on them. If you feel that way, eat what you want, seriously. However, these things will compound to wreak havoc on the human gut over time.
But look, food is emotional, I get it. If you’re mad just reading this, click off. It’s not worth it to you right now, and that’s ok!
If you’re still reading, hey there! This recipe is for you. Enjoy!
UH-MAZING HEALTHY (for REAL) PIZZA
CRUST
Note: cook the crust first and add/bake the toppings later (if you want something quicker, use Siete grain free tortillas instead (available at Natural Grocery Stores, on Thrive, and Amazon)
Heat oven to 425℉ and grease 2 cookie sheets.
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 cups tapioca flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- dash of sea salt
- 1-2t oregano leaves
- 3T extra virgin olive oil
- 2 eggs
In a mixer combine warm water and tapioca flour. Mix until combined (it takes a couple minutes–it’s ok!). Add coconut flour, salt, and oil and mix until smooth. Add eggs and mix another minute or so. Transfer mixture onto greased cookie sheets and spread evenly to about ¼” thickness.
Bake 12-15 minutes.
TOPPINGS: Add whatever toppings you love. Here are some of my favorites but add your own spin.
BASE SAUCE: Organic tomato sauce with no sugar added or pesto for the base. If I want a Thai pizza, I’ll use almond butter + a little fish oil + siracha to taste–if you need the sweet here, add a little coconut or maple sugar. If I want a creamy garlic sauce, I’ll make Avocado Mayo and mix in some minced garlic for my base.
MEAT: You can leave the meat off or use whatever you like. Find wild, lean, pastured kinds of meat. Avoid processed meat full of chemicals and antibiotics. Chicken is fantastic on pizza. I also like ground turkey that I’ve sauteed with onions and garlic. Leave plenty of room for veggies.
VEGGIES: All the veggies. Organic if possible. Mix and match. Be creative. They all taste great on pizza (even shredded carrots taste great on Thai pizza!). Thinly Slice your veggies (use a mandolin if you have one–or grate them). Thinly sliced red onion is amazing on pizza–even better: caramelize them first!
Bake for about 10 minutes at 425℉
FINAL TOPPINGS: After it’s done baking, put some spinach or arugula on top along with fresh herbs of your choice. I also LOVE grated macadamia nuts shredded on a microplane–adds a great depth of flavor + healthy fat to your pizza. Or you could toast some pine nuts and put them in a spice grinder (or leave whole)–then sprinkle over the top (any nuts you like will be amazing here–just avoid peanuts because they’re problematic for sensitive people–think almonds or walnuts instead; toast, chop + spinkled on top). Shred basil or other fresh herbs on top to compliment your base/meat/veggie choices. If you go Thai, use cilantro, maybe some mint leaves, drizzle a little chile oil on top, or hot pepper flakes. Add some cracked fresh pepper, and sea salt.
ENJOY! Take heart knowing that what you are putting in your body is nutrient dense, fresh, and delicious–you know where all the ingredients have come from, and that they will fuel your body and help you show up healthy and strong in your life. Focus on what you CAN eat and make it amazing.
Giving yourself food like this will support your health and life, instead of eating addicting, processed foods that take a little more of our health away each time we eat.
1. https://www.aarda.org/NEWS-INFORMATION/STATISTICS/
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-inflammation
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Photo by Edgar Castrejo on Unsplash
