Pecans may lower cholesterol and curb heart disease risk

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 25-75 year-old men and women at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Increased risk for cardiovascular disease will be defined by either elevated cholesterol profiles -or- overweight/obesity. * Elevated cholesterol profiles will be defined as: * "Borderline High" and/or "at risk" in two or more of the following variables (total cholesterol: 180-239 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol 110-159 mg/dL, triglycerides 130-199 mg/dL) --or-- "High" in total cholesterol (240 mg/dL and higher), LDL (160 mg/dL or higher), or triglycerides (between 200-350 mg/dL). * Overweight/obesity will be defined by body mass index (overweight \> 28 kg/m2 or obesity 30 kg/m2 or greater). Exclusion Criteria: * Probable familial hypercholesterolemia, defined by: total cholesterol greater than 290 mg/dL or LDL levels greater than 190 mg/dL plus a family history of myocardial infarction (MI) before 50 years of age in a 2nd-degree relative or below age 60 in a 1st-degree relative. * Women on hormone replacement therapy less than 2 years. * Women who are pregnant or nursing * Individuals who regularly exercise more than 3h/w * Weight gain or loss of more than 5% body weight in the past 3 months * Plans to begin a weight loss/exercise regimen during the trial * History of medical or surgical events that could affect digestion or swallowing * Gastrointestinal surgeries, conditions, or disorders * Any chronic diseases (including moderate to severe asthma, chronic lung disease, and kidney disease) * Metabolic disease * Atherosclerosis * Previous MI or stroke * Cancer * Fasting blood glucose levels greater than 126 mg/dL * Blood pressure greater than 180/120 mmHg * Medication use affecting digestion, absorption, or metabolism (e.g. thyroid meds), lipid-lowering medications, medications for diabetes, steroid/hormone therapies, or current antibiotic cycles * Medically prescribed or special diets * Food allergies (specific to the foods in the study, including tree nuts, dairy, gluten, palm oil, and coconut oil) * Fish oil supplements * Individuals who regularly consume nuts and/or nut butter (defined as consumption of \>2 servings (\~56g) of tree nuts, nuts, or nut butter (e.g., peanut butter, almond butter) per week * Excessive alcohol use (greater than 3 drinks/day for men; greater than 2 drinks/day for women) * Tobacco or nicotine use * Underweight BMI (\<18.5 kg/m²) * Individuals who have donated blood or plasma in the past 2 weeks * Anemia or hemoglobin levels \<13.0 g/dL (men) or \<12.5 (women)