to healthy controls.^16 In fact, other autoimmune conditions
(including type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis) occur
together with celiac disease more frequently than with any
other autoimmune condition, suggesting that an unhealthy
gut is a mediator of this wide range of seemingly
unconnected diseases. Any one of these conditions may be
a sign that the brain is under threat of attack: people who
have autoimmune disorders are more likely to develop
dementia, recent research shows.^17 Keep in mind that these
diseases manifest after many months or years, often without
obvious symptoms. And, for many patients with
overlapping thyroid and celiac disease, gastrointestinal
symptoms are absent, marking one of the rare instances
where “going with your gut” may lead you astray.^18
Preventing or halting this immune breakdown is not
achieved simply by going on a gluten-free diet. It’s
important to add something back to the diet that is sorely
missing from our modern plates: fiber. Fiber directly
protects us against immune confusion in part because
SCFAs like butyrate increase the production and
development of regulatory T-cells in the colon. These cells,
also called T-regs, are a type of immune cell that helps
ensure a healthy and appropriate inflammatory response by
suppressing the responses of other immune cells, including
those that promote inflammation.^19 Think of them as the
managers on the security force that keep the more
pugnacious junior guards under control. They are key
players in helping your body better distinguish between
itself and everything else. If that critical ability breaks down,