A recent study has confirmed what I’ve suspected during late-night fridge raids—pizza is basically therapy with melted cheese and pepperoni. Thanks to researchers at the University of East Anglia, we now have scientific proof that pizza reduces stress. Take that, kale! 👊😂
Science Says: Sniff the Slice, Chill Your Brain
In this groundbreaking research, participants exposed to the smell of freshly baked pizza reported feeling calmer, happier, and—according to one guy named Dave—“more spiritually aligned with the universe.” Forty-two percent said the aroma comforted them, while 28% experienced an instant mood boost. One subject reportedly wept tears of joy after sniffing a deep-dish crust.
So, the next time your boss emails you “circling back” on something you’ve ignored for two weeks, take a long inhale of that leftover slice in the fridge. It’s science!
Seriously, let’s break it down:
- Dough: A warm, fluffy emotional support blanket.
- Cheese: A gooey antidepressant.
- Toppings: A personalized stress management system.
- Sauce: Literally just liquid comfort.
Pizza doesn’t ask questions. Pizza doesn’t judge. Pizza doesn’t say, “we should talk.” It just shows up, hot and ready to love you unconditionally.
Also, it’s totally fine if you ghost pizza for three months and then come crawling back at 2 AM. Granted, who’d ever ghost pizza? That’s just weird! Just saying… 🤷
Anyway, back to that science stuff… Researchers suggest that pizza’s aroma activates the limbic system in the brain—our emotional HQ—triggering a release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and possibly marinara.
So, don’t just eat it—breathe it in! Let your nasal passages absorb that baked-in bliss. It’s cheaper than a vacation and way less effort than meditating.
Bottom Line… and Possibly Your Waistline
So, forget essential oils. Forget yoga. Forget that stress ball shaped like a unicorn that never worked anyway. The answer has always been pizza!
Just remember… while pizza may reduce stress, eating an entire large by yourself may cause a different kind of stress later—specifically, the “why do my jeans hate me?” variety.
But hey… worth it!
Crock’s Thoughts 