Gluten-free. People are starting to hear these two words much more often than they did five years ago. Being gluten-free myself, I am constantly asked, "What does it mean to be gluten-free?" o,r "What can you actually eat...anything?" To answer the first question, being gluten-free simply means refraining from any foods that contain gluten, a general name for proteins that make up wheat, rye, oats and barley. Gluten acts as a bonding agent, or glue, in foods. Because of this, gluten is found in many foods that you wouldn't think wheat, barley, rye or oats would be in. This leads us to the answer for the second question. People who are gluten-free usually base their diets around meats, fruits, vegetables and starches. For those who are allergic to gluten, it becomes quite difficult to find foods that are completely gluten-free. The following list includes the top eight hardest things about being gluten-free.

1. When you ask for a GF menu at a restaurant, they act like you asked them to go personally catch you the finest fish in the ocean for your meal.

2. People think you're rude for not indulging in those donuts that a coworker brought in to celebrate their last day.

3. Pizza is the go-to food when you're with your friends, so you sit there acting like you don't actually hate your life.

4. You have to sit and stare at the delicious bread sticks placed in front of you at the restaurant.

5. People assume that you are GF just to be healthier, when in reality you swell up like Violet from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" if you eat wheat, not to mention you can't breathe.

6. You have to carry an Epi-Pen at all times just in case you eat some gluten.

7. Toilet paper can have wheat in it...that leads to a major rash.

Finally...

8. You have to read every single ingredient on every single thing that you plan to place in your mouth or on your body.

The struggle is real...