Phenylketonuria is a medical condition. It is a rare genetic condition that obviously has significant impacts on our health, but it is sometimes very difficult, if not impossible, to notice the impacts as they can be subtle. However, the effects are there and when we pay attention to them, we can detect them. This is why the best possible choice for someone with phenylketonuria is to adopt the PKU diet.
My choices, my consequences
Personally, I’ve always been on the low-protein diet for phenylketonuria, but at different levels. At one point, I used to follow it a lot less rigorously and allow myself far too many forbidden foods. Even though they weren’t the norm, these bad habits were taking a toll on my health and I just didn’t realize it. In addition, I was doing very well in university, so nothing could indicate the potential problems that high levels of phenylalanine can create.
The best choice I made for myself and for my health was undoubtedly to take control of my diet as effectively as possible.
To learn more about my background, you can read this article I wrote a few years ago.
Get back on diet for life, okay, but how?
To regain control of your diet, it will be important to keep these elements in mind:
- You will need to stock up on vegetables and fruit.
- You will need to be followed by a specialized clinic for phenylketonuria.
- You will have to test several different PKU formulas to find out which ones you like the most.
- And above all, at all times, stay strong! It looks complicated at first, but it gets easier with practice.
The good news is that you are not alone and there are plenty of resources out there to help you get on the right path. There are guides, Facebook groups and pages, online documents, which can serve as important tools. For example, Nutricia Metabolics’ « Diet for Life » online guide is packed with information and practical tips.
« Set small goals, like drinking your formula 3 times a day. Celebrate your success and set new small goals! » #Phenylketonuria
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– « Diet for Life » guide, Nutricia Metabolics
I loved this guide for the tips and information it contains, but especially for the testimonials of adults like you and me who also have phenylketonuria. In this guide you will find:
- A « Questions & Answers » section
- Phenylketonuria facts
- General information
- Testimonials
- Details on Nutricia Metabolics products
- Tips for integrating the formulas into your daily life
- 3 easy steps to take control of your diet
I strongly encourage you to download this guide and keep it safe. It is an important ally in your new resolution! To receive a paper copy of the guide as well as recipe booklets and other informative documents send an email to canada.metabolics@nutricia.com.
This article is presented in collaboration with Nutricia North America, but the ideas and recommendations are my own.
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