Should you go gluten-free?

++  The short answer is:  NO, unless your health care provider has diagnosed you with Celiac Disease or similar gluten-sensitivity (or is testing you for this). 
  Gluten-free diets are the "cure of the month" right now.  The good news stemming from this is that people who need a gluten-free diet can now find a wider range of gluten-free foods and find them more easily.  The bad news is that a person who goes gluten-free without guidance from a dietitian or a doctor can easily develop vitamin imbalances from the diet restrictions, and end up worse than he/she started. 
  In case you are wondering about gluten:

• Gluten is a protein found in many--but not all--grains.  It's the substance in wheat that helps give structure to bread, for example. 
• People with Celiac disease can't digest gluten properly, so it causes damage to their intestines.  This leads to symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, and weight-loss. 
• Celiac disease can be dangerous because the damage leads nutrient deficiencies (poor absorption), but other diseases can cause the same symptoms, so it is unsafe to diagnose yourself.

Bottom line:  If you have Celiac disease, it's worth the effort to stick with your diet.  If you don't have Celiac disease and try to avoid gluten, you may be wasting money and/or endangering your health.