I have been drinking a lot of water, but lately I have been reading that some waters can cause bladder problems. What am I supposed to do? Are some waters better for IC patients than others?
This is a great question. There actually is no research to support the idea that drinking anything other than tap water is better for bladder patients. Most IC patients find that they can drink their own well or city water without problems. Naturally, this is also the most environmentally friendly option. Those who have heavily chlorinated city water or well water that is heavy with minerals may find that filtering their water improves the taste.
Although most bottled waters come from some standard municipal or well source, some brands do add ingredients when processing. If you prefer bottled water for either taste or convenience, it may be necessary to try several brands before they find those that don’t cause them to flare. You may even find that you can drink some of the flavored waters if your IC symptoms are in remission. The key is to determine your own personal tolerance for different waters just as you do with your foods so that you don’t unnecessarily restrict things from your diet.
Good luck!
Julie Beyer, MA, RD
Website: www.ic-diet.com
To schedule a personal phone consultation with Julie, please call 1-866-537-8766