If I’m getting sick, and then eat gluten.....

[Litty]

Would this boost my immune system and potentially prevent me from getting sick? 😃 I am celiac...

[cyclinglady]

No.  I think you are talking about COVID-19.  Celiacs who are managing their treatment (gluten free diet) well, do not have a higher risk of having a poor outcome with COVID.   Those who have autoimmune disorders (like lupus, Crohn’s, etc.) and  are being treated with immunosuppressants are at more risk.  Celiacs who react pretty fast to gluten exposures are found to have increased cytokines in the gut.  Now COVID researchers are finding that very ill patients are having cytokine storms causing blood clots that can impact the brain, heart, liver, and lungs.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/health/coronavirus-cytokine-storm-immune-system.html

I think you are mixing up autoimmune vs a normal immune response.  Eat  gluten as a celiac and your body may be too busy attacking your small intestine to defend itself from COVID.  

If you want to have the best chance of surviving COVID 19, you can do a few things.  1.  Stay gluten free, 2.  Get lots of sleep, 3. Increase your vitamin D, by going in the sun for a few minutes each day or taking a normal recommended dose of Vitamin D, 3. Wear a mask and physical distance (may help reduce the viral load), 4.  Wash your hands, and  6.  if you are under 55 and are obese, lose weight!  

If you do not believe me, ask your doctor.  He or she knows you and your health history.  
 

Stay safe.  
 

Learn more:

https://www.benaroyaresearch.org/blog/post/covid-19-coronavirus-11-things-people-autoimmune-disease-should-know#

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by cyclinglady

[Scott Adams]

Interesting question because those with celiac disease have an immune system that seems to be over active. I’ve not seen any studies in the past 20 years that support the idea that triggering your immune system by eating gluten could prevent other infectious diseases. It’s not impossible, but I tend to doubt it.