OBESITY IS A CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE THAT IS REACHING EPIDEMIC LEVELS WORLDWIDE, INFLICTING LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS AND GREAT SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN. OBESITY IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN INCREASE OF IMMUNE CELLS IN FAT TISSUES AND ABNORMAL GASTROINTESTINALMICROORGANISMS THAT OVERALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF OBESITY. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND DEVELOPED UNIQUE MAIZE AND CELERY WHOLE FOODS RICH IN THE PLANT-MADEMOLECULE APIGENIN THAT INCREASE THE ABSORPTION OF APIGENIN. APIGENIN HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE HEALTH BENEFICIAL EFFECTS. THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY THE EFFECT OF THESE FOODS IN REDUCING INFLAMMATION AND RESTORING THE FUNCTION OF FAT CELLS AND NORMALIZING THE GASTROINTESTINAL MICROORGANISMS HELPING TO REDUCE OBESITY.OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE POSSIBILITY TO USE WHOLE FOODS RICH IN FLAVONES AS A NOVEL APPROACH TO REDUCE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION CHARACTERISTIC OF OBESITY AND HELP REESTABLISH GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH IN OBESITY