Interstitial Cystitis Advice

ICadvice’s Guide to the IC Diet



IC diet 101



Don't be too alarmed by the word diet, this set of food guidelines and suggestions is not designed primarily for the purpose of weight loss. Instead it is a set of food parameters, which many IC patients find can have mild, moderate or even radically positive affects on their Interstitial Cystitis (IC) symptoms.

A limited amount of literature exists on the IC diet, although there is one excellent cookbook, "A taste of the Good Life: A Cookbook for an Interstitial Cystitis Diet" by Beverly Laurmann, that's currently it, just one cookbook to rely upon (note, the author of this article personally hopes to change that one day). Not much considering the plethora of cookbooks that grace the shelves of just about any book store. Or the seemingly endless list sites like Amazon and B&N provide. The larger IC websites do however provide thorough, in-depth IC diet information, which I personally found very helpful and comforting when I began researching and learning not only abut the role food plays in IC but about all things IC.

IC diet information is sparse, but that doesn't make it any lest valid. The IC diet is centred round the principle that certain foods (most foods for that matter) have a direct connection to the bladder, and that some (very common, every day) foods have the ability to increase patient's symptoms and/or provoke symptom flare-ups.

But what foods you may ask, suddenly eyeing your kitchen with a hint of fear, well like so many things in the world of IC it is somewhat personalized to each individual patient. The mainstay idea however is to eat a low acid, low tyramine (an amino acid that is found in many foods, it is also problematic for those with migraine headaches) diet, which may initially appear about as exciting as choosing between eggshell and light cream house paint. Rest assured, as we will get into later on in this article that is far from the case.

The foods we eat have a profound and often long lasting impact on our bodies. We all know what thoughts and pictures the word "diet" usually conjures up; high protein, low protein, grapefruit, cabbage soup, references to beaches…this diet isn't for losing weight, if you lose weight as a result of it, and that is something you are happy about then consider it an extra bonus. If you need to lose weight (or for that matter gain weight) for medical reasons or otherwise and would like to start following the IC diet, you may wish to consult a professional dietician or nutritionist (or ask other IC patients bout their experience in this department). It is always a good idea to talk to a medical professional when making significant change in your diet, especially if you are taking certain medications or are diabetic.

No diet will solve all your ills (pun intended), so before you scan this article see the "trigger foods" and beeline it for a trash can and your kitchen cupboards, hold on a moment. The concept behind the IC diet is that irritants in certain foods provoke negative (often painful) responses in our bladders. Everything we eat is broken down by our bodies, what they (our bodies) don't use (absorb, metabolise, etc) is expelled through our digestive and urinary systems. By eliminating or greatly reducing the number of problematic foods we consume, many ICers (yours truly included) find that one of three main things (or a combination of them) occurs:

*By eliminating irritant foods IC symptoms begin to improve, this may happen rapidly or over time (weeks or even months). Frequency and urgency may decrees, bladder/pelvic pain and pain while urinating may lessen and other symptoms may also see marked improvement.

*Reducing/eliminating problematic foods bring on a noticeable decrees in the amount of symptom flares-ups (also know simply as flare) that the ICer experiences. They usually find that some foods are more brutal on their bladders then others, and may choose to eliminate these items from their diet completely. Also flares that do occur (for other reasons) may occur for shorter periods of time or with less severity.

*Nothing happens. In a tiny percentage of IC cases, including some where IC is very, very advanced and the bladder may be severely damaged, there may be virtually no noticeable change in the patient's symptoms. What's interesting here is that sticking to the guidelines laid out in IC diet, may take a while to produce results, especially in more sever cases, as the bladder may be so "wounded" that it needs a while to adjust to not being bombarded with irritating, symptom increasing foods.

For a fortunate few (typically those with milder IC) diet doesn't seem to make a difference, they can eat what they want. I'm happy for these fellow ICers, but I hope that they came to this conclusion after at least trying the IC diet for a while.

I developed IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) prior to developing IC, so I was no stranger to eating for a medical condition. When doctors could shed next to no light onto my IBS or offer any practical, helpful advice beyond "try eating more fibre", I began my own process of elimination diet. No let's be frank, I had literally gotten to the point of eating white rice and crackers for every meal, it seemed that every thing else (except water) that I put into my body was violently, painfully, promptly expelled. My digestive system and G.I. track was a mess, an exhausted mess. So one by one I tried to introduce even the most basic foods into my diet, learning a very important lesson rather quickly, only try intruding one food back into your diet at a time (actually you should span about 4-7 days at least before reintroducing the next suspected food back into your meals), as the peanut butter and nectarine day taught me (I still shutter to think of the consequences that combo resulted in). By that time I had, over several months created an IBS "diet" that worked for me, I came across the book "Eating for IBS" by Heather Van Vorous, and saw that although different in some respects, her widely adopted IBS diet was remarkably similar to mine (perhaps the most notable difference being that my IBS {and bladder later on} can not tolerate most soy products, but can handle).

But Jess, you are saying, this is about IC, indeed it is, but I tell that story to illustrate a point, two actually. One most people will instinctually realize that food plays a factor in their medical health especially if it relates to a bodily system that is responsible for eliminating food waste. And two, when IC hit me and I was again in much the same predicament, it didn't seem quite so daunting, I knew it was a matter of patience, trial and error and adhering to the guidelines which work for me.

When I developed IC, I also developed Vulvodynia and quickly eliminated high oxalate foods from my diet, this helped my symptoms marginally, and I still to this day try to keep high oxalate foods to a minimum. As well I am diligent to my IBS diet, though things in that area have improved somewhat, I know that if I eat even a few bites of beef or sips of coffee I would be paying for it out the…(well you see my point). As well there are fibromyalgia diet tips that I incorporate. Yet after correlating and synchronizing ideas, "rules", and guidelines to essentially 4 different diets I still manage to eat a healthy, balanced enjoyable diet. The diet I will describe in detail here is primarily focused on helping IC, however.

It's important to let you know that following the IC diet will not necessarily make you "all better", I truly wish it were as simple as that. But IC lacks those sorts of quick fix remedies. Instead it will aim to help you reduce or minimize your symptoms and flares, as well as helping you to enjoy eating again, and to not fear food.

Fearing foods however is an understandable response; given that you know many items do make you feel worse or bring on harsh flares. But you can't just do the water and rice thing, I know I've been there and all you are doing is more harm then good in the long run. It's okay for times of severe pain or flare-ups but not every day, the body requires certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals, these things actually work in our benefit. So while it's very important to question the integrity of foods, especially ones we are not accustomed to eating, are new to us or that we did not prepare ourselves, out and out fear will solve nothing. Instead try looking at things from an intelligent, investigative, open minded standpoint, try reminding yourself of the old adage, nothing ventured-nothing gained.



The Science behind the IC diet



Have you ever heard the saying, "an enigma wrapped in a riddle?" I think it's a very appropriate way to describe not only IC in general, but also the IC diet. As not every ICer reacts to the same foods in the same way, it is puzzling to try and find the common ground between those foods which bother different individuals. There are some fundamental foods which irritate/bother the majority or IC patients, such as coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, cranberries, tomatoes and chocolate, but where as one ICer may be able to handle apples with relative ease another may experience a severe flare.

It's worth noting that the trigger/problem foods IC patients deal with are not actual food intolerances or food allergies, while is possible to experience those things in conjunction with IC, of course, the IC diet is a "list" of foods which have negative impacts on the bladders and bodies of most IC patients. If you think you have an actual food allergy, it is best to be formally tested if you are finding that even after trying an elimination and reintroduction diet, most foods are still too problematic for you, you may consider seeking medical help and or testing, especially for conditions like Celiacs (an intolerance towards wheat and gluten products) or an adverse reaction to yeast such as Candida.

So why do some foods "harm" our bladders, well there's that darn enigma again…but one current, scientifically studied idea (theory) is that many of the foods found on the most respectable lists of IC trigger foods, is that they (the foods) contain high levels of histamines. Histamines (or better yet, levels of histamines that our individual systems find too high) often cause mast cells to be produced in our bodies; mast cells create inflammation and irritation. The bladders of many IC patients are found to contain abnormally high levels of mast cells so it stands to reason that foods with high histamine contents could indeed provoke IC symptoms and why many IC patients find that antihistamine (like Hydroxyzine) medications can help their symptoms. IC bladders are already highly sensitive, and certain "no-no" foods are stimulants (coffee, caffeine, chocolate), and are best avoided if at all possible. There is no sense is kicking your bladder when it's already down.

Acid and the acidity content of many foods also seem to play an important role in the IC diet. Though not every trigger/problem food is high in acid, many are. Imagine your IC bladder as an open (potentially bleeding) wound, if you put water on the wound it might sting a little but it won't burn, if you put lemon juice on it, they'll hear you scream five blocks away. Interestingly the acid level of many IC patients urine is not abnormally high, and though some ICers have tried adopting "acid-alkali" philosophies into their diet, they are often meet with limited success, despite the fact that most of these theories are based on the "fact" that our bodies are often too high in acid content and thus they must be neutralized with alkalis. Use of chemically prepared urinary alkalinizers in IC patients is not very well known, and those who do try them may not get the desired results. So before you run down to the local high school and politely ask Mr. Sutherland, the eleventh grade chemistry teacher for some litmus paper, consider trying the IC diet first.

So although we don't exactly know how and why certain foods cause adverse reactions in the bladders of IC patients, we do have a fairly decent understanding of which foods are more problematic than others. Here follows the a relatively thorough list of common foods and their affects on IC, this is of course just a guideline, each of us is different and only by experimenting with our diet will we be able to determine which foods are our worst culprits and which we can happily pack in the picnic basket.

The foods listed have been divided into three categories per heading: "Negative" which means that the food is a high risk IC product and is best avoided, unless you are totally sure you can handle it (even in small quantities it may increase symptoms). The "Possible" foods are ones that some ICers can handle and others can't, often it is the size of the portion or quantity of the food used that determines whether to not it will be tolerated by your bladder. It is best to incorporate small amounts of these items into your cooking and to combine them with lots of IC friendly foods. Then comes the section we all love, the "Positive" foods, these are products which are generally tolerated and eaten with very few or no problems by most ICers. It's wise to make this column the basis of your IC friendly diet.




Interstitial Cystitis Food Directory






Grain Products



Negative:



-Breads and commercially prepared cereals with excessive amounts of preservatives (so that most likely means bye-bye to Captain Crunch and Fruit Loops, trust me I miss them too)
-Soy Flour
-Soy "chips" and "soy rice cakes"



Possible:



-Amaranth and amaranth flour
-Grits
-Oatmeal, look for organic, pure oatmeal not the types with added flavourings and preservatives
-Rye flour and rye bread
-Sourdough bread
-Whole wheat bread
-Gram Crackers (with as few problematic ingredients as possible)
-Soda bread
-Soda crackers (choice unsalted to be on the safe side)
-Flour tortillas
-Corn tortillas and corn chips (many wonderful organic varieties are available, and some are comparative in price to their chemical and preservative laden counterparts)
-Organic waffles (often they come in egg free, dairy free and gluten free varieties, and are available at most health food grocery shops and some of the large mainstream chains)
-Puffed wheat



Positive:



-Preservative free breakfast cereals, which do not contain other bladder irritants (such as dried cranberries or certain nuts)
-Buckwheat
-Corn meal products, such as corn bread
-Couscous
-Matzo
-Millet
-Milo flour
-Oat bread
-Pasta (look for organic or preservative free varieties, many are available without eggs [for those who may be sensitive to eggs for various reasons such as food allergies or IBS], or you could even try making pasta yourself at home)
-Pita bread
-Potato bread and potato flour
-Quinoa
-Cassava flour
-Arrowroot flour (a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibber)
-Malanga flour (also known as yautia, cocoyam, eddo, coco, tannia, sato-imo, and Japanese potatoes)
-Rice, look for organic or preservative free varieties, instant minute may not be the best choice (I can tolerate and love brown rice and wild rice)
-Rice Flour
-Rice cakes (opt for organic, not only are they healthier but I find the flavour is much more intense, well okay as intense as puffed rice can be)
-Rice noodles and "rice paper"
-Spelt
-White bread; look for organic or preservative free varieties






Beverages



Negative:



-Alcohol (including beer, wine, spirits, drink mixes {like Margaritas} and cocktails-alcohol is just not bladder friendly for most ICers)
-Grenadine (a pomegranate syrup which is used in many mixed drinks)
-Tomato and Clamato juices
-Carbonated water (soda and seltzer)
-Chocolate milk and most other varieties of commercially flavoured milk beverages
-Hot cocoa
-Citrus juices (they are almost always absolute "killers" for ICers, and should be totally avoided)
-Cranberry juice (despite the fact that cranberry products are used in treating Urinary Tract Infections, it is best to avoid them with IC as they are very, very acid. Instead opt for blueberries which contain the same properties which make cranberries useful in treating UTIs)
-Herb teas w/rose hips
-Most fruit juices
-Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated)
-Sodas, both with and without caffeine (aka, Pop)
-Soy milk
-Teas with caffeine or known bladder irritants
-Snapple
-Lemonade and limonade
-Commercially prepared ice teas and ice tea powders
-Apple ciders (especial those with alcohol)
-Drink syrups and powders used to flavour milk



Possible:



-Alfalfa tea
-Bottled water (For the longest time my bladder was acting up and I couldn't figure out why, I hadn't changed my diet. It was only after eliminating most foods did I realize that the brand of store bought water I was drinking was the culprit, despite the fact that it claimed to be pure spring water, about 3 days after I stopped drinking it my bladder calmed down)
-Coffee substitutes
-Low acid decaf coffee
-Low acid juices
-Blackberry juice (organic or homemade)
-Kool-aid (I put this reluctantly, as it's probably best that no one ingests so many artificial substance, yet it deserves to be included because some ICers can handle certain varieties)
-Non-carbonated sports drinks (Like Kool-aid, some may be tolerated, look for those on the market with out added colours)
-Rice milk
-Almond milk
-Root beer with lots of ice
-Flat ginger ale (for adding a pinch of salt seems to help make ginger ale more tolerable once it has gone flat)
-Tap water (not all tap waters are created equal)
-White chocolate hot cocoa (homemade is delicious)
-Eggnog (without alcohol, be careful though as a few ICers have reported that they cannot handle either whole eggs, egg yolks or even egg whites)
-Buttermilk



Positive:



-Chamomile tea (organic if possible)
-Marshmallow tea (start with a very weak blend until you know how your bladder will react)
-Evian water
-Pear juice (such as the bands for infants, and/or organic or homemade varieties)
-Blueberry juice
-Carrot juice (organic or homemade)
-Homemade juices using bladder friendly vegetables
-Milk
-Mint tea (opt for organic, the flavour is more pronounced and it's great for IBS symptoms)






Nuts and seeds



Negative:



-Filberts and hazelnuts
-Macadamia nuts
-Peanuts and peanut butter
-Pecans
-Pistachio nuts
-Brazil nuts
-Walnuts



Possible:



-Chestnuts
-Sunflower seeds
-Cashews
-Pumpkin Seeds
-Flax seed
-Sesame seeds



Positive:



-Poppy seeds
-Pine nuts
-Almonds






Fats



Negative:



-Mayonnaise
-Miracle whip
-Most store bought salad dressings (vinegar, spices and preservatives can all be trigger foods)



Possible:



-Tahini (try to find organic or make your own)
-Margarine (organic and olive oil based varieties are the ones which bother me the least)
-Grape seed oil
-Some nut oils
-Flax seed oil
-Shortenings and lards
-Duck fat (preservative free)
-Soy oil
-Saffron oil
-Peanut oil



Positive:



-Butter
-Canola oil
-Coconut oil with out any preservatives
-Corn oil
-Olive oil
-Sesame oil






Soups, Stocks, Broths and Stews



Negative:



-Bouillon cubes and powder (I find that I can tolerate some organic, non-msg types)
-Most commercially prepared soups and stews
-Tomato based soups



Possible:



-"Health Valley" brand chicken broth and some other organic broths
-Some canned and prepared soups; look for organic ingredients with out problematic ingredients (mushroom and chicken noodle may be tolerated)



Positive:



-Homemade soups, broths, stocks and stews made from bladder friendly ingredients
-Some cream based soups






Meat, Poultry, Game and Fish



Negative:



-Most commercially prepared deli meats, especially bologna and anything with nitrates

-Hot dog wieners (franks)
-Most commercially prepared sausage
-Most smoked meats like pepperoni and salami
-Smoked ham
-Smoked fish and seafoods
-Spam and similar meats



Possible:



-Anchovies
-Some caviars
-Bacon (rashers) and Canadian bacon (look for varieties with s few preservatives and chemicals added, as possible.
-Liverwurst
-Prosciutto
-Venison
-Rabbit
-Eggs (a few ICers say that they can't handle any part of the egg, whilst others can only tolerate the yolk or the egg white. If you are having trouble with eggs try separating the two parts and trying each individually to determine if you are more sensitive to one over the other, I find the yolks bother me much more, but that is due to my IBS)
-Soy protein (used to make meat substitutes that often resemble beef or chicken products, as they are made of soy, not all ICers can tolerate them)



Positive:



(Note: when at all possible try to obtain free/organic meats and eggs)
-Beef and veal
-Chicken
-Turkey
-Duck
-Goose
-Lamb
-Liver (both chicken and beef)
-Lean cuts of pork
-Most fish and seafood






Dairy Products



Negative:



-Most aged cheeses
-Blue cheese
-Brie
-Camembert
-Gruyere
-Emmenthaler
-Roquefort
-Swiss
-Stilton
-Sour Cream
-Soy cheese
-Soy forms of most dairy products
-Sorbets and ice creams made with trigger foods



Possible:



-Condensed milk and evaporated milk
-Some Parmesans (try Kraft as it is tolerated by many ICers)
-Some yoghurts (opt for organic varieties)

-Goat's milk yoghurt
-Cool Whip
-Monterey jack cheese
-Baby Bell cheeses
-Some varieties of American cheese and cheese slices (like Kraft singles)
-Cheese whiz
-Velveeta
-Some frozen yoghurts (made with bladder friendly ingredients)
-Rice Dream ice cream
-Crème fraiche
- Mascarpone cheese
-Depending on your bladder's level of sensitivity to soy products, you may be able to get away with using soy-dairy substitutes such as soy yoghurt, cream cheese and cheese slices



Positive:



-Cream cheese
-Cottage cheese
-Feta cheese
-Mozzarella
-Ricotta cheese
-String cheeses
-Whipped cream
-Vanilla ice cream






Vegetables and Lentils (Pulses)



Negative:



-Tomatoes and tomato products
-Chili peppers
-Fava beans
-Lima beans
-Black beans (canned)
-Pickles
-Raw onions and shallots
-Soy beans (edamame)
-Tofu
-Sauerkraut
-Pickled vegetables



Possible:



-Avocado
-Artichokes
-Asparagus
-Beets
-Cooked onions and shallots (each ICer seems to respond to onions differently, so use them lightly)
-Garlic
-Capers (in small quantities, soak them in water and rinse well before using)
-Chicory
-Green onions (scallions)
-Celery
-Cooked leeks
-Dandelion greens
-Eggplant
-Fennel
-Yellow tomatoes
-Low acid tomatoes
-Most types of sprouts
-Some olives, look for fresh ones, with as few added ingredients and preservatives as possible (soak and rinse with water before using)
-Rhubarb
-Radishes
-Rutabagas
-Spinach
-Kale
-Swiss chard
-Turnip greens
-Watercress
-Some types of seaweeds (Nori, Kombu, etc), look for organic varieties with as few preservatives as possible



Positive:



-Bok Choi
-Broccoli
-Brussels sprouts
-Cabbage (green and red/purple)
-Carrots
-Cauliflower
-Chives
-Collard greens
-Corn
-Cucumbers
-Lentils
-Most lettuces (such as iceberg, romaine, butter-head, endive, cos)
-Mustard greens
-Mushrooms (fresh and dried, if dried without preservatives)
-Most dried beans and peas
-Okra
-Peas, split peas and snow peas
-Bell peppers
-Parsley (note: Parsley has mild diuretic properties, and may bother some bladders if used in large quantities)
-Pumpkin
-Sweet potatoes
-Most squashes
-Turnips
-Yams
-Zucchini






Fruits



Negative:



-Apricots
-Nectarines
-Most apples (some ICers can tolerate the Fuji and Gala varieties however)
-All citrus fruits
-Marmalade
-Cantaloupe
-Cherries
-Cranberries
-Cumquats
-Dried fruits with preservatives
-Dried figs
-Peaches
-Plums
-Kiwi fruit
-Most berries
-Passion fruit
-Pineapple
-Grapes
-Guava
-Persimmon
-Starfruit
-Dragonfruit
-Pomegranate
-Most jams (blueberry and pear made with as little lemon juice as possible or those with non at all re usually tolerate, and delicious)



Possible:



-Bananas (note: One substance in particular that is thought to possibly aggravate IC bladders is potassium, so it is best to eat limited quantities bananas if you opt to include them in your diet)
-Un-sulphured banana chips
-Blackberries
-Bilberries (a "cousin" to the blueberry, also know as huckleberry)
-Raisins (look for preservative free)
-Cherimoya
-Crenshaw melon
-Currants
-Citrus peel (in small amounts)
-Honeydew melon
-Papaya
-Coconut and coconut milk
-Maraschino cherries
-Mango




Positive:



-Pears (fresh and dried without preservatives and sulphates)
-Blueberries (fresh and dried without preservatives and sulphates)
-Dates without preservatives






Sweets, Sweeteners and Desserts



Negative:



-Acesulfame
-K -Aspartame
-Chocolate
-Coffee flavored desserts
-Deserts with uncooked alcohol
-Deserts with trigger nuts (especially citrus and cranberries)
-Deserts with trigger fruits
-Commercially prepared fruitcakes
-Mincemeat pies
-Nutrasweet
-Saccharine
-Stevia
-Non-organic food colourings



Possible:



-Banana bread (homemade or preservative free)
-Raisin bread (homemade or preservative free)
-Caramel
-Almond pastries
-Desserts with bladder friendly ingredients
-Meringues
-Cheesecakes made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Some hard and soft candies, without trigger foods
-Homemade popsicles from bladder friendly ingredients
-Splenda (sucralose)
-White chocolate
-Fudges made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Marshmallows (organic varieties are now available, alternatively they can be prepared at home)
-Icing sugar
-Corn syrup
-Molasses
-Gelatine (plain)
-Extracts (essences), such as vanilla and almond
-Organic food colourings
-Angel food cake



Positive:



-Brown sugar
-White sugar
-Honey (note: honey is not recommended for children under the age of 3 years)
-Carob chips and products
-Crème Brule and crème caramel
-Custards (if you can tolerate whole eggs)
-Divinity
-Homemade cakes made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Homemade frostings and icings made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Liquorice
-Maple syrup
-Tapioca
-Rice puddings
-Vanilla pudding and mousse
-Sugar cookie
-Carrot cake
-Zucchini cake
-Most sponge cakes and lady's finger biscuits
-Pumpkin desserts
-Coconut cake and pies made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Ice creams and sorbets made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Pear desserts made with bladder friendly ingredients
-Nilla wafers






Herbs, Seasonings and Addictives



Negative:



-Ascorbic acid
-Autolyzed yeast
-BHA and BHT
-Benzoates
-Caffeine
-Cayenne
-Cloves
-Catsup (ketchup)
-Chili powder
-Cayenne
-Taco seasoning mixes
-Hot curry powder
-Hydrolyzed protein
-Meat tenderisers
-Miso
-Wasabi
-Horseradish
-Paprika
-Soy sauce
-Chili pepper flakes
-Tamari
-Vinegar
-Mustard and mustard powders
-Salsas with trigger ingredients (like tomatoes and pineapple)
-Most relishes
-Worcestershire sauce
-Rice wine vinegar
-MSG (monosodium glutamate)
-Sulphates
-Tomato based bbq sauce
-Most commercially prepared seasonings and sauce mixes
-Most commercially prepared gravies (Some organic types are suitable, or better yet homemade)



Possible:



-Chives
-Cream of tarter
-Mild curry powder
-Basil
-Peppercorns
-Celery seed
-Cilantro
-Cinnamon
-Cumin
-Dried parsley
-Dill
-Chervil
-Ginger
-Malt powder
-Mint jelly (such as the type used for lamb, which can be made at home, for preservative free varieties)
-Onion powder and onion salt
-Garlic powder and garlic salt
-Nutmeg
-Turmeric
-Salt (opt for organic varieties, they are usually not a lot more pricey then their regular counterparts and are readily available)



Positive:



-Allspice
-Anise
-Baking soda (if you are on a low salt diet, avoid excess amounts as it is high in salt content. Some ICers find that adding a pinch of baking soda to trouble foods, help to reduce their acid or alternatively some people drink about a tsp of baking soda in water to help with flares and problematic foods)
-Baking powder
-Caraway seed
-Fennel
-Mace
-Marjoram
-Mint and spearmint
-Sage
-Rosemary
-Oregano
-Thyme
-Tarragon
-Vanilla beans

Making Sense of it all



The above list is a starting ground; it contains a lot of the foods used in every day Western cuisine and to a lesser extent certain ethnic cuisines as well. You may want to read it over a few times, print it off or take notes, because it really is helpful to have it on hand all the time, especially when grocery shopping or preparing meals. You may also want to print copies for friends or relatives who often cook for you.

Incorporating the IC diet in to your life needn't be an overly stressful event. The route that most ICers take is to scale their diet down to the bare minimums and add in a new food every week or so. You may want to (and I recommend) keep a food journal of what you eat while you going through this transitional, experimental period. How minutely you want to break down the components of your meals and snacks is up to you, but it a good idea to note the time when you eat, what you ate (say roasted potatoes with butter, steamed carrots and baked salmon for example) and a rough guess of the quantity, because often ICers can handle small portions, infrequently of some trouble foods.

Adopting a new set of dietary guidelines doesn't just happen over night, even if you do clean out all the "negative/trigger" foods from your house (easier said then done if you live with other people), you may still find that you can't tolerate some of the foods on the "possible" and "positive" lists, so it's best not to jump the gun (if you do decide to rid your cupboards and fridge of certain foods, if they are not open or old it is best to give them to the local food bank or friends/family members, as wasting food is not helping anybody). I recommend, starting with a plain plate of rice, simple pasts (without sauce), simple breads, potatoes, lettuce, pears and chicken and adding foods from there. It is easier to add foods one at a time than to eliminate them one at a time, because if you eliminate one food and still have symptoms it may take much, much longer to source out what the problem food (or foods) are.

It took me about 6 months to get my IC diet figured out, and while I will occasionally nibble a bit of something I probably shouldn't, I never let other foods even so much as come near my lips. I am unique in some respects because, every single one of my medial conditions can tolerate (me) eating yoghurt and most cheeses, but I try not to push my luck. The longer I am on the IC diet the more it seems I can add small amounts of foods that used to bother me back into my diet, but sometime I still flare up, no matter how careful I am with what I eat. Such is the nature of the IC diet, because as much s it is about individual trigger/problem foods, it also about certain combinations that for whatever reason your body, just can't tolerate. You will learn al these things as you go along. Don't beat yourself up if you do have a flare, instead take it (the diet) easy and eat mild, bladder friendly foods. When you feel you are ready keep going. Try not to give into the temptation of foods which you know bother you. I realize this is easier said then done, especially when in social situations or when celebrating.

If you are at a restaurant and you require more information don't hesitate to ask, if the staff look at you funnily, just simply say you have a "food allergy", and they should be accommodating, if you really feel uncomfortable consider leaving. Your diet is your business, not theirs.

Grocery shopping can be very stressful/anxiety provoking for some on a new medicinal diet, it may seem as though everything in the stores is against you, and while yes it's best to avoid the soda and junk food aisles, the bakery, deli, and produce departments, can be your inspiration for tons of IC friendly recipes. I recommend that you never shop on an empty stomach and that you use a restroom as soon as possible before entering the store. Take a cart (trolley) if you are purchasing more then a few items, no need to strain yourself more then you have to. If you need assistance ask the people working in the aisles, and don't ever feel that you need to justify asking for help, because you don't. Shopping with someone who understands you situation can provide you with company and support and help to keep your spirits up, I love to shop with my husband, he's found ingredients for me, I would never have considered IC friendly yet are (for me).

Organic and natural food stores are becoming mainstay as a growing trend in eating habits shifts towards healthier, more earth and body friendly foods. These can be great places to start off your shopping, as they often carry brands that conventional groceries do not. As well they are usually more than happy to order in specialty foods for you (such as preservative free dried blueberries and marshmallow root/leaf tea). A lot of items can now be purchased online as well. The IC diet may cost you more than your previous way of eating, but you have to weigh the pros against the cons, this is after all your health, your life, and you deserve the best food that you can budget for.

It's important to let the people close to you in your life, especially those who often eat with you that you have changed your dietary habits and inform them about the IC diet. If you are telling young children, explain to them that they can still eat as they did before; it's just you who will not be eating all the same things, because they can make you "sick". Some people (and medical professionals for that matter) may not understand the severe ways that food can improve or harm your (bladder) health, but it is important to stand strong, and always explain in easy to understand terms why you choose to eat this way and what benefits it has on your life. Most family members will be happy to accommodate any dietary needs you have, they don't want to see you suffer needlessly, especially with something that can be controlled (food).

Likewise, don't torture yourself by eating chocolate washed down with coffee; the pain and agony of an IC flare simply aren't worth a few moments of food resting on your tongue. Indulge in bladder friendly foods that you enjoy cooking at home or know that you can pick up from the store and treat yourself with. I have loved cooking since I was old enough to hold a spatula, and having to work around numerous medically required diets has not hindered my love of cooking one bit. If anything it has adhered me to the culinary arts that much more, because every day presents me with new opportunities to create IC friendly recipes and to learn more about cooking, as well as what great (bladder safe) products are available.



"Last course" thoughts



So what does the IC diet mean? It means changing the way you eat to accommodate for a very serious medial condition. It means making dietary changes that also may take some time to adjust to, but in the long run may do you more good then harm.

IC presents you with many obstacles, but learning to cook and eat for IC is a challenge that you can derive enjoyment and education from. You are not doing this alone, thousands upon thousands of IC patients have adopted the IC diet guidelines and have seen real, positive results in their health. You deserve to be as healthy and symptom (pain!) free as you possible can, so why not try the IC diet, or update the one you are already following. Nothing ventured, nothing gained…