People with PKU must avoid foods that are
high in protein
like meat, fish, poultry, dairy, soy, legumes (dried beans) or nuts. Some fruits and vegetables are higher in protein than others.
What food should PKU avoid?
- Meat, eggs, and fish.
- Bread, noodles, and wheat products.
- Nuts, peas, and beans (and products made from these foods).
- Milk and cheese.
- Chocolate.
What foods can you eat if you have PKU?
The diet for PKU consists of a phenylalanine-free medical formula and carefully measured amounts of
fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and cereals
. Many people who follow a low phenylalanine (phe) food pattern eat special low protein breads and pastas.
Can people with PKU eat rice?
Your individualized low-Phe diet will include fruits, vegetables, fats, sugars, and low-protein medical foods, such as low-protein pasta and breads. Foods such as regular pasta, bread, rice, and starchy vegetables (e.g., potatoes, peas, corn) are likely to be
limited
in your diet.
Can people with PKU have sugar?
People who have phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid foods and drinks that have aspartame, which contains phenylalanine. Advantame also contains phenylalanine, but
it is considered safe for people with PKU
. That’s because advantame is so sweet that only tiny amounts of it are used.
Can you eat potatoes with PKU?
Vegetables: Starchy vegetables like white, sweet, purple potatoes (and fries), winter squash, corn, and peas should be eaten sparingly. Most other fresh or frozen vegetables are low in phenylalanine with the exception of the ones on the non-compliant list.
Can phenylketonuria be cured?
There currently is no cure for PKU
, but the condition is controllable through proper diet and supplements. What kinds of diets do children with PKU need to adopt? PKU is caused by the body’s inability to metabolize phenylalanine, which is found in high protein foods such as poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products.
What is the life expectancy of someone with PKU?
PKU does not shorten life expectancy
, with or without treatment. Newborn screening for PKU is required in all 50 states. PKU is usually identified by newborn screening. A child’s outlook is very good if she strictly follows the diet.
What foods are rich in phenylalanine?
Phenylalanine is found in most protein-containing foods such as
milk, eggs, cheese, nuts, soybeans, chicken, beef, pork, beans and fish
.
What can I eat if I can’t have protein?
- Fruits: Apples, bananas, pears, peaches, berries, grapefruit, etc.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, asparagus, peppers, broccoli, leafy greens, etc.
- Grains: Rice, oats, bread, pasta, barley, etc.
- Healthy fats: Includes avocados, olive oil and coconut oil.
Can you outgrow PKU?
A person with
PKU does not outgrow it
and must stay on the diet for life.
What happens if someone with PKU eat protein?
A dangerous buildup of phenylalanine
can develop when a person with PKU eats protein-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, nuts or meat, and even grains such as bread and pasta, or eats aspartame, an artificial sweetener. This buildup of phenylalanine results in damage to nerve cells in the brain.
Can babies with PKU breastfeed?
In the early 1980s, with the determination of low concentration of Phe in breast milk, breast milk supplemented with Phe-free formula has become an acceptable dietary treatment for infants with PKU. Today,
breastfeeding is encouraged and well established in PKU patients
.
Which sugar is not suitable for phenylketonuria patients?
A person with PKU also should avoid the artificial sweetener
aspartame
, which contains phenylalanine.
Can people with PKU eat sucralose?
Bear in mind this has come from a drink and not some lovely tasty food. People with PKU can have diet and sugar free drinks, as long as they don’t have aspartame in. More drinks are now using other sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame K which
are safe for people with PKU to take
.
Which artificial sweetener must be avoided by a person with PKU?
Because
aspartame
changes to phenylalanine and aspartic acid when it enters the digestive tract, people with PKU should avoid foods and beverages that contain aspartame.
