Ephi Lu

Gram staining

Gram-staining is a traditional laboratory technique used to rapidly classify bacterial species into two broad categories: gram-positive and gram-negative, according to their type of…

Gram-negative bacteria

Gram-negative bacteria contain outer and inner cell membranes and create pink color colonies upon gram-staining. Most of the gram-negative bacterial species are pathogenic due…

Ghrelin

Ghrelin is often referred to as the “hunger hormone.” It is produced by the stomach and stimulates appetite, signaling to the brain that it’s…

Germ-Free (GF) Animal Model

The germ-free (GF) animal model refers to the study of animals raised in a sterile environment free of microorganisms (i.e., beneficial and pathogenic microbes)…

Genes

Genes are the instruction manuals of living organisms made up of intricate DNA sequences; their function is to direct the production of specific proteins…

Food Security

Food security is a broader concept encompassing not only affordability but also availability, accessibility, and utilization of food. It is the condition in which…

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…