Mediterranean Diet and Mushrooms

During the 2-week baseline period all participants will consume their usual, unrestricted self-chosen diets. During intervention weeks 1-8, all participants will consume the same Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits and seafoods and lower in dairy, designed to meet their estimated energy needs. The mushroom group will consume 0.5 cups/day of cooked mushrooms (white button mushrooms and yellow oyster mushrooms on 4 and 3 days/week, respectively). All foods will be provided to subjects during the intervention to achieve the desired eating pattern.

During the 2-week baseline period all participants will consume their usual, unrestricted self-chosen diets. During intervention weeks 1-8, all participants will consume the same Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits and seafoods and lower in dairy, designed to meet their estimated energy needs. The control group will not consume mushrooms at any point. All foods will be provided to subjects during the intervention to achieve the desired eating pattern.