The Influence of Honey-flavored Yogurt on Low-grade Inflammation and Gut Health in Middle to Older Aged Women.

Those qualified for enrollment will be randomized into a double-blind crossover study to consume 2 morning servings of a 0.6 cup (150g) of plain yogurt with : A) cane sugar added in an isocaloric level as the honey or, B) 1 tbsp of phenolic-rich honey for 4 weeks. A one-month washout between periods will be used. The participants will be instructed to consume one yogurt in replacement of or as part of breakfast, and as a late morning snack. They will also be instructed to not add any additional items to the yogurt. Therefore, each study participant will consume 2 tbsp. of honey a day for four weeks, which is a realistic amount typically consumed by honey users.

Inclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal female: 45-65 years
• Women: lack of menses for at least two years.
• Subject is willing and able to comply with the study protocols.
• Subject is willing to participate in all study procedures
• BMI 25.0 - 30.0 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• BMI ≥ 31 kg/m2
• Food allergies
• Self-reported use of daily anticoagulation agents including aspirin, NSAIDs
• Vegan, Vegetarians, food faddists or those consuming a non-traditional diet
• Use of concentrated food supplements/powders and extracts
• Fruit consumption > 2 cups/day
• Vegetable consumption >3 cups/day
• Self-reported restriction of physical activity due to a chronic health condition
• Self-reported chronic/routine high intensity exercise
• Self-reported diabetes
• Blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
• Self-reported renal or liver disease
• Self-reported heart disease, which includes cardiovascular events and stroke
• Abnormal Metabolic or CBC panels (laboratory values outside the reference range) if determined to be clinically significant by the study physician.
• Self-reported cancer within past 5 years
• Self-reported malabsorption
• Currently taking prescription drugs or supplements.
• Supplement use other than a general formula of vitamins and minerals that meet the RDA
• Not willing to stop any supplement use, including herbal, plant or botanical, fish oil, oil supplements a month prior to study enrollment.
• Indications of substance or alcohol abuse within the last 3 years
• Cannabis use
• Screening LDL ≥ 190 mg/dl for those who have 0-1 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol (i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL]. (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp)
• Screening LDL ≥ 160 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL]. (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp);
• Screening LDL ≥ 130 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL], and a Framingham 10-year Risk Score 10-20% (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp).
• Current enrollee in a clinical research study.