The proposed study is a parallel-group, free-living, observer-blind, randomized controlled dietary intervention trial on 66 overweight middle-aged men and post menopausal women. This study will be carried out in two phases: Phase 1 will examine the effects of almonds on clinically relevant markers of immune function, and Phase 2 will assess the antibody response to influenza vaccination following almond consumption. Participants will attend a baseline clinic and will be randomized to one of two groups. The Almond group will receive 15% of daily energy intake in the form of almonds as a snack and the Control group will continue thier usual diet but completely avoid almonds and restrict other nuts to less than 2 servings per week. The intervention will be for 12 weeks, at which time both group participants will receive the influenza vaccination, and continue the same dietary intervention for another 28 weeks.
