Gluten free. From celebs, to yogis, to mothers and personal trainers, it seems like this lifestyle has completely taken over the American public.

Speaking on behalf myself, who lives with Celiac disease (a digestive/autoimmune disorder that destroys the lining of the small intestine when digesting gluten), I wonder why people without this disease go gluten free. Throughout the past few years, I have come across people who claim to be “gluten free.” However, they have absolutely no clue what gluten is. They’ve just heard the buzzword and they are part of the bandwagon.

So, what is gluten?

The scientific definition according to Livescience.com: Gluten is composed of two proteins found in wheat endosperm.

Two proteins found in wheat endosperm? What does that mean?

In simple terms, gluten is in wheat, rye, and barley.

When I first found out what I could not eat, it seemed like a simple task. I never was a huge fan of pasta, pizza, bread, or cake growing up. I now had an excuse to skip out on weekly pasta dinners! What I didn’t realize was how often gluten was hiding in some of my favorite meals.

For example, I was a huge sushi fan. California rolls and tempura were my go-tos. Unfortunately, my favorite meal was full of gluten. I had to cut out tempura (for the breading), California rolls (for imitation crab; yes, most sushi rolls that use crab are actually made from wheat), and soy sauce (for the wheat… who knew that soy sauce contained wheat?) Along with these new discoveries, I also found out most soups, gravy, and quesos are made with gluten as a thickening agent. No more clam chowder, thanksgiving gravy, or nachos. All of the sudden, I became very bewildered at my new diet. If gluten hides in all of these items, how would I know how to order at restaurants? And also, why would anyone want to do this diet for fun? I would give up anything to just have a bite of mom’s famous, disgustingly rich brownies.

Is it really healthier?

Yes and no. You now have to cut out many desserts, pancakes, sandwiches, chicken nuggets, etc, but you also lose valuable vitamins, minerals, and fibers that are pivotal to a healthy diet.

But I thought going gluten free would help me lose weight?

Again, yes and no. If you decide to go gluten free, cutting out desserts and gluten-filled snacks and turning to healthier alternatives (fruit or vegetables) could help you lose weight, however, if you decide to change from eating Pringles to a gluten free bag of chips, you will not be helping your case.

Before you decide to jump on the bandwagon with the rest of Hollywood socialites, remember to weigh the benefits and consequences. My advice would be to live life loving gluten. I wish I could.