Feeling Foggy?

Have you ever woken up in the morning and felt like you were going to have an "off day"? You can't seem to think clearly enough to do anything right? Well, that's an all too common thing for someone with PKU who isn't on the diet.

PKU and tons of protein don't mix. When too much protein is eaten it can effect the brain. It effects the front lobe, which is responsible for all the cognitive functions. The protein makes it hard to focus on something for too long, and makes it hard to think clearly at all.

It's important to know how much protein you can handle. Everyone is different when it comes to this, just like it is when someone has diabetes. That is determined by how well the enzymes in the liver work. Like I have said before, some people with PKU can only have as little as 2 grams of protein a day, all the way up to 16 grams. Whatever the limit, if they go over it can cause lots of side effects.


One of those is feeling foggy. When someone with PKU has too much protein it makes them have to focus really hard to do even the simplest tasks. Even finishing a conversation without forgetting what the topic was, is a challenge.


Another side effect is being overly grumpy or depressed. It's so easy to get mad or take anything the wrong way. I have to say, this one is the one I usually suffer from. Well, I should say everyone around me suffers. All sorts of things can happen when someone with PKU eats too much protein.


If you know anyone with PKU, and you notice they are having an off day, this could be the reason why. And for those who have PKU, be conscious of your protein intake, if you don't, the people around you can and probably will face the consequences.


Until next time,
Phe

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