Besides being difficult to digest or process, gluten consumption frequently causes the immune system to react and cause an autoimmune response. The body is unable to distinguish gluten from normal body tissues causing inflammation and damage. The body attacks the micro-villi on the lining of the small intestine. Villi are very tiny fingers that increase the surface area of the small intestine so it can absorb and assimilate nutrients from food we eat. Antibodies (molecules that destroy bacteria, viruses or other harmful toxins) triggered by gluten cause villi to flatten. Once they flatten, the villi are no longer able to absorb nutrients. This goes on to impact the entire body, which is why gluten reactions vary wildly and symptoms often seem unrelated. This story has a happy ending! The villi are tenacious little things, and when you quit eating gluten, they begin to heal and start absorbing nutrients.