Effect of Watermelon on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health

Exclusion Criteria

• •Intake of antibiotics in the last 3 months
• •Intake of pre/pro/postbiotics in the last 3 months
• •Current or past (within the last 6 months) user of tobacco, marijuana, or E-cigarette products
• •Cardiovascular disease (will not exclude for hypertension), gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, celiac, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short bowel syndrome), neurological (multiple sclerosis, meningitis, recent stroke) or endocrine disorders (uncontrolled thyroid disorders, growth hormone disorders, adrenal gland disorders, uncontrolled diabetes - A1C greater than 9%).
• •Food allergy to study foods
• •Any allergy to melon
• •Any allergy to the isocaloric snack (gluten)
• •Regular consumption of watermelon greater than 2 servings / week
• •Current heavy alcohol use (≥ 15 drinks / week for men, ≥ 8 drinks / week for women
• •Class 3 Obesity (BMI \> 40 kg/m2)
• •Current user of Citrulline, Arginine, Nitric Oxide or other supplements known to affect nitric oxide synthesis (beet root juice or any beet supplement, Pycnogenol / Pine bark extract)
• •Known to be currently pregnant (self-disclosed)