Gluten-free foods are the rage these days. More than 1,300 gluten-free products showed up in supermarkets last year alone, including macaroni and cheese, cereal and cake mix. There are even gluten free selections on the menu when eating out

But what is gluten?

"Gluten is a protein naturally found in wheat, barley, and rye," Sue Perry of Consumer Reports ShopSmart said. "And its a binding agent that holds dough together as it bakes."

ShopSmart took a closer look to see if you should buy into the hot gluten-free food trend.

"There's a greater awareness about gluten now because there's better recognition of celiac disease, which damages the small intestine," Dr. Orly Avitzur said.

"That damage prevents people with celiac disease from absorbing the nutrients in food."

Even healthy adults can have trouble digesting wheat and gluten, with many people experiencing gas and bloating.

And gluten can show up in unlikely places, like hot dogs, tea, deli meats, and even lip gloss.

There are key words to look for, like 'traces of wheat' in the jumbo hot dogs and 'wheat flour' in a can of soup.

"Wheat starch is used as a filler in all sorts of things so where the general category of meat is acceptable for people who need to be on gluten-free most prepared meats aren't going to be so frozen meat patties, sausages hot dogs other processed foods," Save-on-Foods' registered dietitian Patricia Chuey said.

You can fill a grocery buggy with gluten-free products.

Still, Consumer Reports ShopSmart says to consider cheaper alternatives that offer good nutrition, including grains like quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. And corn is gluten-free too. But here's a caution about going gluten-free when you don't have to.

"There are people that don't have celiac who say they feel better eliminating gluten from their diets. But gluten-free products do have nutritional deficiencies, and they can cost two to three times more," Perry said.

Prices are falling as more gluten-free products come to market.

Other money-saving ideas for naturally gluten-free snacks include vegetables, nuts and popcorn.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen