The majority (around 80%) of patients with IC have some level of food sensitivity.
The majority (around 80%) of patients with IC have some level of food sensitivity. For many, this involves only a small handful ✋ of trigger foods – common triggers include citrus fruits 🍊 and juices 🥤, caffeine ☕️ alcohol 🍷, tomatoes 🍅, artificial sweeteners, and spicy foods. Others are more diet-sensitive and have to be more careful about the foods they avoid.
Dietary management can be an effective treatment plan for Interstitial Cystitis. Experts recommend avoiding potential triggers such as caffeine and citrus juices. However, trigger foods may vary for each person. Diet alone may not improve the symptoms, but consuming certain foods and avoiding others can provide some relief.
Trigger foods can intensify symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis by changing the potassium content of urine and activating pain receptors in the bladder.
Note that foods and beverages that trigger symptoms vary for each person with the condition.
Foods to Eat
- Certain fruits: Avocados, bananas, blueberries, melons, pears, apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins.
- Some vegetables: Asparagus, celery, bell pepper, broccoli, beets, eggplant, peas, mushrooms, and spinach.
- Grains: Oats and rice.
- Proteins: Beef, eggs, pork, lamb, poultry, and fish.
- Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, and pistachios.
- Nut and seed butters: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter.
- Some dairy: Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and low fat and nonfat milk.
- Herbs and spices: Basil, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
- Beverages: Water, pear juice, blueberry juice, grain-based coffee substitutes, and chamomile or peppermint tea.
Foods to Avoid
- Certain fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, pineapples, and strawberries.
- Some vegetables: Tomatoes and tomato products, pickles, chilli peppers, and sauerkraut.
- Processed sandwich meats: Bologna, ham, salami, and cold cuts.
- Soy foods: Tofu, edamame, tempeh, and soybeans.
- Cultured dairy products: Yogurt.
- Chocolate: Chocolate bars, chips, and candies.
- Condiments: Chiles, vinegar, horseradish, salad dressings, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup.
- Beverages: Alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, and citrus juices (including orange, grapefruit, cranberry, and pineapple juice).
- Food additives: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and artificial sweeteners.
SOURCES 🍲
https://www.pelvicsanity.com/the-best-supplements-for-interstitial-cystitis
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/interstitial-cystitis-diet
I try to include all links I use for each blog post. I only select a small portion of the reference material, but I want to include links so if you want to “dive” deeper into the subject you can.
I am not a medical professional. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.
TREATING INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS 