Effects of Phytonutrients on Vascular Health

This study will determine the effects of beneficial compounds of plant foods, such as pomegranate on cardiovascular health. This will be tested by asking healthy males to eat a high fat ground beef patty with pomegranate juice (PJ), pomegranate extract (PomX) or water and then measuring blood vessel dilation (endothelial function) by blood flow We also will measure the amount of Nitric Oxide (NO) in your blood and urine samples and sugar and insulin in blood. Healthy men have been chosen for this study because eating high fat hamburger patties can easily mimic in them the condition that causes atherosclerosis. The results from this study may help to explain how high fat foods can be harmful to the body and how beneficial plant foods can have on cardiovascular function