Ephi Lu

Western Diet

The Western diet typically refers to a dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of processed foods, refined sugars, unhealthy fats (such as saturated and…

Permeability

Permeability refers to the ability of nutrients, microorganisms, and other constituents to pass through the cellular lining of any barrier. We will refer to…

Personality traits

A personality trait is a consistent internal characteristic and persistent tendency to think, feel, and behave similarly across time and situations (Farrington & Jolliffe,…

Peyer’s patches

Peyer’s patches have an oval-shaped structure and are part of gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) found along the entire length of the small intestine, just…

Phagocytes

Phagocytes are a group of cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, that can engulf and digest foreign particles, such as bacteria and debris. They are…

Phagocytosis

Phagocytosis is a process in which cells, typically specialized immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils, engulf and digest foreign particles, such as bacteria or…

Processed Food Hurts Your Immune System — And Your Kids’ Too

A study published in Nutrition Journal looked at the impact the Western diet and lifestyle has on people’s immune function. It found that…

A Greater Role in Nutritional Health

Can What We Eat Affect How We Feel?

Nutritional psychiatrists counsel patients on how better eating may be another tool in helping to ease depression and anxiety and may lead to better…

Could Junk Food Lead to Poor Eye Health as You Age?

Aim to fill your plate with fruit, dairy, poultry, fish, and vegetables—instead of processed and fried foods—research suggests…

Sometimes Frozen Vegetables Can Be Even Healthier than Fresh – Here’s Why

Frozen veggies line the freezers from top to bottom at the grocery store. But with many myths floating around today discrediting frozen…

Coronavirus: How to Keep Your Gut Microbiome Healthy to Fight COVID-19

Many countries have sealed their borders and put the population under voluntary or enforced lockdown. Cultural and sporting events…