Explanation

Coeliac disease is caused by an allergic reaction to a protein called gluten. Gluten is found in cereal grains, especially wheat, barley and rye.

Antibodies in your immune system mistake gluten for a harmful germ and they overreact and attack it! As your gastrointestinal system is exposed to gluten more and more, the villi in your small intestine become flattened and the walls become thicker. This causes chronicinflammation and makes it harder for you to take in all the nutrients that you need to from the food you eat.

Coeliac disease can be linked to some autoimmune disease, like type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and primary biliary sclerosis. It is also associated with an itchy skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis. You might not have enough immunoglobulin A in your body if you have coeliac disease, and this can weaken your immune system.