““drew her a diagram of the small intestine that looked like a shag carpet. I explained that this protein, gluten, had flattened that carpet into a Berber rug. The small intestine is essential for the absorption of nutrients, the production of vitamin D3, and crucially, the manufacture of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. When serotonin is low, the body overproduces norepinephrine, which can cause severe anxiety. This process also depresses GABA production, which can cause sleep disturbance.””