Q: I am starting to feel like I am the only person on the planet who isn’t on a gluten-free diet. What am I missing?

— Jennifer J., Lakeland, Fla.

A: You’re missing dietary restriction. Most people who go on gluten-free diets do so not because they have celiac disease.

They do so because as we age we get intolerant of starches and gluten is the protein that holds the starches together. As a result, we gain weight, become bloated and feel out of sorts when we eat it.

When we go on a gluten-free diet, bloating goes down, we lose weight and feel much better. If you don’t need it, I say, don’t do it.