Low-Carbohydrate and Plant-Based Dietary Effects on Vascular Health

Prior treatment

• Use of any of the following medications that require close monitoring and adjustment during major dietary change: insulin, sulfonylureas, or warfarin
• Major surgery in the past 3 months
• Illicit drug use (not including marijuana)

Other illness

• Active malabsorption syndrome (celiac disease, history of gastric bypass within the past year, uncontrolled Crohn's disease, protein-losing enteropathy, etc…)
• Diagnosis of cirrhosis or liver failure
• Myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
• Current, active eating disorder as determined by chart review, investigator assessment, or subject history
• Food allergies or intolerances that would interfere with eating study food or require special accommodation as determined by subject history, investigator assessment, or chart review

Lab values

• Chronic or acute kidney disease, with eGFR \< 50 on two or more lab tests in the past 6 months
• Hyperkalemia (defined as potassium \>5.4 on two or more lab tests in the past 6 months)

Other

• Consuming a current diet described by the subject as vegetarian, vegan, very low-carbohydrate, or ketogenic
• High risk alcohol use, based on subject history (defined as greater than 7 drinks/week for women and greater than 14 drinks/week for men)

• Age \>50
• Diagnosis of any of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension (Diagnosis present in chart or use of antihypertensive medications); hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia (non-HDL cholesterol ≥ 130 within the past year or current use of antihyperlipidemic medication); prediabetes (HbA1c ≥ 5.7% and \< 6.5% in the past year); diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5% in the past year); obesity (body mass index ≥ 30).
• Willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, including food provision, scheduled meetings and testing visits.
• Able to speak and read English fluently because counseling and education is only available in English.