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.