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Diet & Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition characterized by bladder pain and pressure, as well as occasional pain in the pelvic region. Although there is no scientific evidence that supports diet causing or affecting this condition, IC sufferers find it helpful to reduce or eliminate the consumption of foods and beverages that are known to irritate the bladder to avoid IC flareups and control its symptoms. The five types of food that seem to be most problematic for IC sufferers are caffeinated beverages, fruit juices, carbonated beverages, tomatoes and tomato-based products, and multivitamins.

  1. Beverages

    • Avoid consuming caffeinated, carbonated and alcoholic beverages as well as beverages with a high acid content, such as citrus juices and cranberry juice. Beverages containing histamines, such as chocolate milk, are also known to trigger IC flareups. Choose from bottled or spring water, decaffeinated, acid-free coffee or tea, or herbal teas.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Vegetables are generally IC-friendly, with the exception of concentrated tomato products and onions. Most fruits, however, are not IC-friendly, due to their acid and/or potassium content. The only exceptions are some of the lower-acidic types of fruits such as blueberries, melons and pears.

    Dairy Products

    • Milk, white chocolate and eggs are considered safe for IC sufferers. Many types of cheese can be problematic due to the aging process. It is usually best to stick with milder and fresher types of cheese products such as fresh mozzarella, string cheese and cottage cheese. For the same reason, it is best to stay away from yogurt, sour cream and aged cheeses.

    Meat and Proteins

    • Most varieties of fresh meats, poultry and fish should not be problematic for IC sufferers to include as a regular part of their diet. Preserved meats and fish, as well as those varieties with a high spice content, can act as triggers for flareups. Processed meats such as salami, ham, bacon and pepperoni also can trigger flareups. While fresh meats are safe to include as part of an IC sufferer's regular diet, be careful of condiments that are routinely added to meats such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, steak sauce and blackened spices.

    Carbohydrates and Grains

    • Rice, pasta and breads are generally safe to consume, but rye and sourdough breads are known to trigger IC flareups.

    Seasonings

    • Sugar substitutes such as aspartame and saccharine, as well as most condiments, spices and preservatives, trigger flareups for most IC sufferers. It is a good practice to avoid mayonnaise, mustard, spices, benzyl alcohol, citric acid, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), vinegar, worcestershire sauce and any foods containing artificial colors and/or preservatives. Garlic is one of the few spices that do not act as an IC trigger.

    Vitamins and Minerals

    • Multivitamins are one of the strongest triggers for IC sufferers due to vitamins C and B-complex. It is safest to purchase vitamins separately rather than ingest multivitamins to better control triggers from entering your digestive tract.

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