The Effect of Avocado Consumption on Vascular Health

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI between 25 and 42 kg/m2 * Age 28 to 70 years during the intervention * Fasting glucose ≤ 126 mg/dl * Blood pressure ≤ 160/100 mm Hg Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of kidney disease, liver disease, gout, certain cancers, thyroid disease, gastrointestinal, other metabolic diseases, or malabsorption syndromes * Women who have given birth during the previous 12 months * Pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant or become pregnant during the study * Lactating women * Type 2 diabetes requiring the use of oral antidiabetic agents or insulin * History of eating disorders or other dietary patterns which are not consistent with the dietary intervention (e.g., vegetarians, very low fat diets, high protein diets) * Volunteers who routinely participate in "heavy" exercise or volunteers who initiate an exercise program during the study. * Volunteers who have lost 10% of body weight within the last 12 months * Use of prescription or over-the-counter antiobesity medications or supplements (e.g., phenylpropanalamine, ephedrine, caffeine, during and for at least 6 months prior to the start of the study) or history of a surgical intervention for obesity * Active cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack or procedure within the past three months or participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program within last three months, stroke or history/treatment for transient ischemic attacks in the past three months, or documented history of pulmonary embolus in past six months) * Smokers or other tobacco users (during the 6 months prior to the start of the study) * Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with study staff * Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past twelve months and/or current acute treatment or rehabilitation program for these problems (Long-term participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is not an exclusion.) * Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow the intervention protocol.