THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXPLORE WHETHER A CULTURALLY ADAPTED MEDITERRANEAN DIET (MED-SOUTH), TAILORED TO SOUTHERN U.S. FOOD PREFERENCES, CAN REDUCE HARMFUL COMPOUNDS LINKED TO CHRONIC DISEASES LIKE TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE. BY COMPARING THE MED-SOUTH DIET TO THE TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN DIET IN ADULTS WITH PREDIABETES, THE STUDY WILL EXAMINE CHANGES IN BIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF STRESS AND INFLAMMATION, WHILE ALSO CONSIDERING HOW GENETIC DIFFERENCES MAY AFFECT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES. IN ADDITION TO THE RESEARCH, THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN STUDENTS AND STUDY PARTICIPANTS AS COMMUNITY NUTRITION AMBASSADORS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER EATING HABITS AND HELP PREVENT DIET-RELATED DISEASES IN LIMITED RESOURCES POPULATIONS.