Food makeovers are next. Chemists in this department claim they have discovered the healthier pizza, 'tossed' with antioxidants.

Pizza bakers have known for some time that longer-baking times and higher temperatures can enhance the flavor of pizza. The new study shows that these intense baking conditions also may boost antioxidant levels in dough, especially whole-wheat varieties, the researchers say.

Their findings were presented today at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

That's good news for fans of deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza, whose longer baking time and thicker crust "may have the potential to deliver higher levels of antioxidants in comparison to other pizza styles," says study co-author Jeffrey Moore, a doctoral student in food chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Diets rich in antioxidants are thought to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

"We chose to investigate pizza dough because it's one of the most popular wheat-based food products in the U.S.," says Moore. “Making popular food more healthy using the tools of chemistry may have a larger impact on public health."

The study is part of an ongoing effort by researchers at the university to discover and develop new technologies that enhance the levels of natural antioxidants in grain-based food ingredients such as whole-wheat flour. That effort is lead by Liangli Lucy Yu, Ph.D., an associate professor of food chemistry at the school and Moore's graduate advisor.