There are hundreds of gluten-free products filling the shelves of grocery stores today, and many people are choosing gluten-free foods every day. Gluten is the protein found in wheat and other grains, which contributes to Celiac Disease. Over two million people in the U.S. suffer from Celiac Disease, and the people who have been diagnosed and those who are gluten intolerant are the people who eliminate gluten from their diets. But recently, more and more people who don't have the disease are going gluten-free, and it has become the latest “nutritional fad.” Celebrities as well are switching to gluten-free products to lose weight or be more health-conscious.

Celiac Disease is associated with the proper digestion and absorption of food. When gluten is ingested into the system, it restricts the ability to absorb the nutrients, and this slowly starves the person even when they are consuming large quantities of food. Celiac Disease can look like other digestive disorders, so it is important to get properly diagnosed by a doctor. If removing gluten or plant protein from your diet causes the related symptoms to disappear, this might indicate that your system is having trouble digesting the gluten, so consult your doctor for more information.

Gluten is found in so many flours and grains, it makes eating a regular diet extremely difficult. Those who have Celiac Disease or allergies must abstain from all foods with gluten, such as bleached, whole-wheat or all-purpose flours, semolina, farina, durum flour, couscous, bran, pasta, spelt, bread crumbs, wheat germ, bran or any foods made from these items.

Below are five other reasons why people choose to eat gluten-free:

1. Wheat/gluten can contribute to Leaky Gut Syndrome – which is a syndrome where toxins leak from the stomach or intestines into the bloodstream.
2. Wheat is not fully digested by humans - if it gives you gas after eating, your body is not digesting the wheat/gluten properly and leaving residue. It might be better to eliminate it.
3. Wheat/gluten is one of the top allergens in the U.S. If symptoms arise after eating wheat, you could be allergic.
4. Wheat is rapidly converted to sugar in the body, even whole wheat, and it is pro-inflammatory.
5. One in 100 people have Celiac Disease, and the numbers are not clear on those who have wheat allergens or gluten sensitivity, but it could be as high as 70 percent of the population.

Gluten-free products are not low calorie and will only help someone lose weight if grain products are completely eliminated and not replaced with gluten-free products. Grains convert to sugar in the body, so simply eliminating them would reduce calories.

By eating gluten-free, some report symptoms like headaches or stomach bloating are eliminated. If so, wheat allergies are suspected. Some who are diagnosed with MS or other immune disorders may feel an improvement eating gluten-free, but it is not the complete cure for their disease. The solution is to try going gluten-free for two weeks, and see what changes you notice.