Question

A patient reports that when under stress and eating a diet that is not as healthy they report catching a cold or getting diarrhea. Which of the following nutritional factors could explain the phenomena?

1) poor nutrition can result in impaired function of the immune system
2) stress causes bacteria and viruses to become more vulnerable in the body
3) most people who are under stress become sick, it is the bodies way of relieving stress
4) malnutrition leads to increased immune activity

Answer 1

The likelihood of catching a cold or getting diarrhea when stressed and eating poorly is linked to the suppression of the immune system due to poor nutrition and the inhibitory effects of chronic stress on immune responses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomena of catching a cold or getting diarrhea under stress and poor diet can be explained by a couple of nutritional and psychological factors:

1. Poor nutrition can result in impaired function of the immune system, making an individual more susceptible to infections and other health issues.
2. Chronic stress has been shown to inhibit immune responses, even in otherwise healthy adults, leading to a higher likelihood of contracting illnesses such as the common cold.
3. The combination of stress and poor nutrition can exacerbate the negative impact on immune function, further increasing vulnerability to sickness.

Studies have demonstrated that chronic stress suppresses both innate and adaptive immune responses, which in turn is associated with increases in diseases. Additionally, poor nutrition negatively impacts the energetic balance and supply of the immune system, leading to decreased immune functioning and higher susceptibility to infections.