Effects of Almond Consumption on the Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Metabolic Health

Exclusion Criteria

• •Physician diagnosed metabolic or gastrointestinal diseases
• •Fasting blood glucose \>126 mg/dL
• •Blood pressure \>160/100 mm Hg
• •Anemia
• •Elevation in serum transaminases (i.e. \>3 times the upper limit of normal)
• •Evidence of liver disease, including primary biliary cirrhosis or gallbladder disease, constipation
• •Currently taking lipid-lowering medications, oral hypoglycemic agents, or insulin, or medications known to impact bowel function.
• •Pregnant, breastfeeding or postmenopausal
• •Smoker, tobacco use
• •Allergic to nuts
• •Consume \> 2 alcoholic beverages/day
• •Abuse drugs
• •Have had \> 5% weight change in the past month or \> 10% change in the past year
• •Have taken antibiotics during the previous 2 months
• •Unable to consume the experimental treatments (almonds or pretzels)
• •Bariatric surgery
• •Gallbladder removal
• •Allergic to lidocaine or other topical anesthetics