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

Inclusion Criteria: * Males \& Females * 30-60 years of age * BMI 25-34.9 kg/m\^2 * Ability to drop off fecal sample within 15 minutes of defecation 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