| We all know that one critical element to a | | | | Showing support for a spouse in this matter |
| relationship is supporting the other person as | | | | makes it much easier for them to make the life |
| much as is reasonable and possible. When a | | | | changes needed to deal with this condition. |
| person has a health condition, this is particularly | | | | Additionally, helping the wheat allergic person does |
| important and the choices a spouse or partner | | | | not necessarily mean making dietary changes for |
| makes can often make the difference between | | | | both people involved, although that does make it |
| success and failure. When the medical challenge is | | | | easier in terms of shopping and diet. There are |
| a wheat allergy, partner support becomes even | | | | many ways to be supportive of a spouse or |
| more critical and difficult to manage as the | | | | partner, asking shop assistants together for |
| changes in diet are so massive that virtually | | | | Wheat Allergy advice for example, and making |
| everyone involved either has to adapt to the new | | | | small changes that have a huge impact. |
| diet or two diets have to be pursued at the same | | | | One positive way of showing support is to work |
| time. | | | | with the person to keep a log of their |
| If a person has a heart condition or high blood | | | | experiences. Another is to be available to pick up |
| pressure, which is very common, making dietary | | | | the slack if they experience side effects during |
| changes together is easier because they both are | | | | the initial stages of the diet. A third way is to |
| diseases we all can relate to without having to go | | | | approach the new diet as a project to learn |
| through them ourselves. Intolerance to wheat, | | | | about, even if the person in question is not |
| however, is difficult to fathom because it is tough | | | | making the same dietary changes. |
| to pinpoint symptoms, not usually life threatening | | | | Helping with the shopping, learning what food |
| and the dietary changes required are quite | | | | products are acceptable and which ones do not |
| extreme. Support through this, however, is critical. | | | | fall within the dietary guidelines is also a good way |
| The natural reaction of a spouse or partner is to | | | | to show support. Still another option for the |
| show some reluctance towards dropping wheat | | | | person who is not allergic to wheat is to fend for |
| products from their diets with their spouse or | | | | themselves for breakfast and lunch and |
| partner. This means not having relatively common | | | | participate in the diet during the evening meal, |
| foods like non-organic ice cream, soups or other | | | | which allows them to eat what they want and |
| products containing wheat or wheat protein. This | | | | only participate in the diet one third of the time. |
| can be both a shock to the system, costs more, | | | | The most important thing is to show the spouse |
| is not as good tasting compared to what people | | | | or partner that they are loved through support, |
| are normally used to (although it is improving) and | | | | patience and a willingness to make sacrifices to |
| requires a very high degree of attention when | | | | restore or guarantee the sick person's health. |
| choosing foods. | | | | |