The investigators propose a comprehensive double-blind placebo-controlled human trial to investigate the effects of carnosine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors. If the investigators demonstrate a role in reducing risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese non-diabetic humans, the public health implications will be revolutionary, offering the world a genuine low cost, accessible, intervention to curtail the advance of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.