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While it seems obvious that good food makes people happy, the science behind this connection is not as clear-cut. Chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and tryptophan all play a role in the link between your favorite food and the pleasure centers in your brain. Colombini's Pizza & Deli, a pizza place based in Rochester, NY, explores whether there's a correlation between pizza and happiness. 

Is There a Link Between Pizza & Happiness?

The Deal With Dopamine Foods

Foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt tend to activate the dopamine receptors in our brains the most. This means that foods high in those contents do make you happy—at least temporarily. Pizza isn’t high in sugar, but fat can be readily found in the cheese and meats on most pies.

A More Complicated Picture

pizzaOther substances found in food, including serotonin and tryptophan, are also linked to happiness. But a food containing one of these substances won’t necessarily boost your happiness in any lasting way. One of the most important keys to food-induced happiness is a balanced diet. Having the right amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins allows you to indulge in occasional sugars, fats, and salts without getting caught in their dopamine cycles, during which the body starts craving foods with those ingredients more and more. 

Art Good Enough to Eat

While the correlation between eating pizza and happiness has not yet been definitively proven, a study at St. Bonaventure University found that drawing pizza provides a mood boost. Participants in the study who drew pizza, as opposed to other foods, reported an average 28% increase in mood. 

Colombini's Pizza & Deli has been a premier Rochester destination for great New York pizza and subs for over 35 years. The family-owned and -operated business makes all its pizza ingredients in house and by hand, so you know everything you order from Columbini's is fresh. The Rochester pizza place also serves wings, cold-cut sandwiches, and veggie options. Visit the website to view the menu, or give the pizza place a call at (585) 889-2213.

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