WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Every junk-food meal you
eat damages your arteries, while Mediterranean-type meals do no
harm -- and may even have a beneficial effect, according to a
new study. Junk-food meals are composed mainly of harmful
saturated fat, while Mediterranean-style meals are rich in good
fats such as mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to
the researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute, which is
affiliated with the University of Montreal. The study included
28 nonsmoking men who ate a Mediterranean-style meal first and
then a junk-food meal a week later. The Mediterranean meal
included salmon, almonds and vegetables cooked in olive oil. The
junk-food meal included a sandwich made with sausage, egg and
cheese, along with three hash browns. The researchers assessed
how the meals affected the inner lining (endothelium) of the
blood vessels. Endothelial function, which determines how well
blood vessels dilate (or open), is closely linked to the long-
term risk of developing he