Least and Most Bothersome Foods

Learn which foods may or may not trigger an IC/BPS flare.

Least Bothersome

Fruits

  • Apricots
  • Bananas
  • Blueberries
  • Dates
  • Melon (honeydew and watermelon)
  • Prunes
  • Pears
  • Raisins

Vegetables

  • Avocados
  • Asparagus
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Mushrooms
  • Peas
  • Potatoes (white potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes)
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Squash
  • Turnips
  • Zucchini

Grains

  • Oats
  • Rice

Protein Foods

  • Beef
  • Fish (shrimp, tuna fish and salmon)
  • Eggs
  • Nuts
  • Peanut butter
  • Pork
  • Poultry (chicken and turkey)
  • Lamb

Dairy

  • Milk (low-fat and whole)
  • Cheeses (mild)

Condiments

  • Herbs
  • Garlic or any herb  infused olive oil

Beverages

  • Grain beverages/Coffee substitutes (Cafix®, Pero®, Roma, Postum®)
  • Water

Other Foods

  • Popcorn
  • Pretzels

Most Bothersome

Fruits

  • Cranberry juice
  • Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
  • Lemons
  • Oranges and orange juice
  • Pineapple and pineapple juice
  • Strawberries

Vegetables

  • Chili peppers
  • Pickles
  • Sauerkraut
  • Tomatoes and tomato products

Protein Foods

  • Processed sandwich meats (salami, bologna)
  • Soy

Dairy

  • Yogurt

Condiments

  • Chili
  • Horseradish
  • Ketchup
  • Salad Dressings
  • Soy sauce
  • Vinegar
  • Worcester Sauce

Beverages

  • Alcohol
  • Coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated)
  • Tea (caffeinated and decaffeinated)
  • Carbonated drinks  (cola, non-cola, diet, and caffeine-free)

Other Foods

  • Chocolate
  • Indian food
  • Mexican food
  • Pizza
  • Spicy foods
  • Thai food

Additives/Artificial Sweeteners

  • Artificial sweeteners (Equal® (sweetener), NutraSweet®, Saccharin, and Sweet’N Low®)
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

SOURCE: Urological and Gynecological Chronic Pelvic Pain: Current Therapies [Moldwin R, ed]. Springer Publishing: USA. [Pending publication, expected release 2016].