Interstitial Cystitis Association
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Diet

Research about the affect of diet on interstitial cystitis, or IC, is limited. But, many people with IC report that certain foods appear to irritate their bladder.  And, they find that changing what they eat and drink can help control IC symptoms and flare-ups.

What things can bother people with IC?

Research links a handful of foods and drinks to IC flare-ups, including:

  • Coffee, tea, soda, alcohol, and citrus juices including cranberry juice
  • Foods and drinks with artificial sweeteners (aspartame and saccharin)
  • Hot peppers and spicy foods
  • Some foods with high potassium levels, like avocados, bananas, chocolate, and oranges

However, there appears to be great individual variation in the affect of foods and drinks on IC symptoms. How much, how often, and the specific combination of foods and drinks varies for each person.  Also, some fresh foods that bother you may not cause a flare-up when they are cooked.  For example, though a fresh apple may irritate your bladder, you may be able to enjoy applesauce.

Many people with IC note worsening of symptoms with foods, drinks, medicines, and supplements containing preservatives and artificial ingredients and colors—such as benzyl alcohol, citric acid, and monosodium glutamate (MSG).  If you have milk allergies or are lactose intolerant, your IC symptoms may worsen when you drink milk and eat dairy foods.

To learn more

Making the changes necessary in the diet to help control IC can take time.  Give yourself plenty of time to discover your ideal diet even. It may require serveral weeks of trial and error. To learn more, go to:

 

Revised March 30, 2009