Laura K. Stewart, Ph.D., FACSM

Contact Information

Education

Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Program in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2005)

M.S., Health Promotion, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2000)

B.S., Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (1998)

B.S., Biology, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA (1996)

Professional/Academic Experience

Professor: University of Northern Colorado (2018 - Present)

Associate Professor:  University of Northern Colorado (2015 - 2017)

Adjunct Assistant/Associate Professor:  Pennington Biomedical Research Center (2007 – 2016)

Associate Professor:  School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University (2013-2014)

Assistant Professor:  School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University (2007-2013)

Postdoctoral Fellow:  NIH-T-32 Botanical Training Program: Adipocyte Signaling Laboratory (2005-2007)

Professor Stewart has been exploring the effects of exercise and other complementary and integrative interventions on human performance and immune function for almost 20 years. Her most recent work explores whether cannabis use is related to health and fitness, and she has just completed an externally funded clinical trial which examined whether cannabidiol alters mental and physical health with a focus on immune outcomes.  

She regularly teaches SES 424- Complementary and Integrative Health every Fall semester for undergraduates and SES 625 – Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Research for graduate students every Spring Semester.  

Research/Areas of Interest

Exploring the relationship between cannabis compounds and physical and mental health.

Optimizing health and human performance using complementary and integrative techniques.

Recent Funding
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
AMVETS

Publications/Creative Works

Selected Recent Publications out of 47 (Bold = Stewart or Graduate Student; Italic = Undergrad Students)

Ramani A, Townsend R, Rodriguez E, Haughian JM, Stewart LK. Daily cannabidiol and L-theanine beverage consumption does not alter anxiety, fatigue, cognitive function, or natural killer cell function. A randomized, controlled trial in healthy, young adults. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Integrative. (2024). 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbii.2024.100045

Kisiolek JN, Flores VA, Ramani A, Butler B, Haughian JM, Stewart LK. Eight Weeks of Daily Cannabidiol Supplementation Improves Sleep Quality and Immune Cell Cytoxicity. Nutrients (2023). 15(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194173

Flores VA, Kisiolek JN, Ramani A, Townsend R, Rodriguez E, Butler B, Stewart LK. Effects of Oral Cannabidiol on Health and Fitness in Healthy Adults: An 8 Week Randomized Trial. Nutrients. (2023). 12(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122664.

Lisano J, Kisiolek J, Flores V, Smoak P, Pullen N, Stewart LK. Chronic Cannabis Use is Associated with Altered Monocyte Phenotype, Immune Response, and Depression in Physically Active Individuals. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. (2023). 101(6). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2022-0451

Lisano J, Flores V, Kisiolek J, Stewart LK. Regular Use of Cannabis in Female Athletes is Associated with a Reduction in Early Anaerobic Power. Journal of Strength and Conditioning. (2023). 37(3). 612-622. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004297.

Complete List of Published Work:  My Bibliography Link