Nutrition, Exercise, and Stress Laboratory


NESL Logo

The Nutrition, Exercise, and Stress Laboratory was established to examine the effects of dietary interventions on stressed physiological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main dietary intervention of interest is a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. NESL has new equipment to provide phlebotomy, protein analysis, cholesterol analysis, and other wet lab capabilities.


Equipment includes (but is not limited to):

  • Epoch spectrophotometer
  • Cholestech
  • Large cold centrifuge
  • Heated stir plate, scales
  • Vortex, phlebotomy supplies
  • DI water system
  •  -20 and -80 degree freezers
  • Card Sorting Box that measures cognitive function, short term memory, attention span, and reaction time

Current and future projects include examining:

  • Cognitive performance after short bouts of high- and moderate-intensity exercise
  • The effects of ketogenic diet on physiological, cognitive, and emotional health variables in veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury
  • Physiological effects of ketogenic-associated supplements, and dietary effects on fertility levels in women.