By Ilene Dube

Several years ago, a New Yorker cartoon pictured a ponytailed young woman and man in sunglasses cruising past a palm tree in a convertible. “I have no idea what gluten is, either, but I’m avoiding it, just to be safe,” read the caption.

These days, with entire supermarket aisles dedicated to gluten-free products, and asterisked menu items at restaurants denoting gluten-free. Most of us know that gluten refers to proteins occurring in wheat, rye, and barley and can cause serious health effects in people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity. more