Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body’s immune system attacks its cells. This can happen because the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign invaders and attacks them or because specific types of white blood cells called lymphocytes (T lymphocytes) mistake normal tissue or organs as threats. Autoimmune disorders are typically chronic and affect multiple organs throughout the body.
Gluten intolerance can cause autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, for some patients with these conditions, removing gluten from their diets relieves their symptoms and improves their quality of life.
