Meals High In Saturated Fats Do Immediate Damage To Blood Vessels

A Canadian clinical trial that measured the effects of different types of meals on the inner lining of blood vessels in 28 nonsmoking men found that a meal loaded with saturated fats damages arteries. In contrast, a Mediterranean-style meal rich in good (mono- and polyunsaturated) fats caused no damage at all to blood vessels, and may even have had a beneficial effect. For the study, the men ate a meal composed of salmon, almonds, and vegetables cooked in olive oil. Arteries of the study participants dilated normally. The second meal included a sausage sandwich, an egg, cheese, and three hash browns. Arteries dilated 24 percent less than in the fasting state.