Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

     My mom has a chronic condition called Interstitial Cystitis (IC), also called Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). It is a condition where you have mild to severe bladder pressure, pain and or even pelvic pain. In a "normal" bladder, the muscular organ that holds your urine, it expands until its full and then signals your brain that you have to go to the bathroom. However, in a person with IC, the signals get mixed up and you feel like you need to go to the bathroom more, yet smaller amounts of urine will come out.
     Symptoms aren't the same with everyone, but include; pain in the pelvis, a need to go to the bathroom often, going to the bathroom often, but in small amounts, pain when the bladder fills and pain during sexual intercourse. These symptoms mirror urinary tract infections (UTIs), but if someone with IC would be tested for a UTI it would come up negative for bacteria, therefore, ruling out a UTI. That doesn't mean someone with IC can't get UTIs, it would just make the symptoms worse. For more inforamtion including causes and treatments see http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/interstitial-cystitis/basics/definition/CON-20022439
     Like many other ailments, IC symptoms can be affected by your diet. Highly acidic foods irritate the bladder the most, therefore should be avoided. The Healing Interstitial Cystitis website provides the top ten foods to avoid on IC;
http://healinginterstitialcystitis.com/foods-to-avoid-with-interstitial-cystitis/

The following charts are from the Confident Choices website;
http://www.ic-diet.com/IC%20Diet%20and%20Food%20List.html. The website explains,

Bladder Friendly includes foods that rarely bother even the most sensitive IC bladders. If you are newly diagnosed, eat these foods until you experience some relief from your symptoms. It may take a few weeks, but do your best to stick with it! 

Try It includes foods that are generally safe to eat though they might bother more sensitive bladders. If your bladder is improving, these foods are safe to try. Test one food at a time, beginning with a small quantity such as 1/2 a piece of fruit or a dash of spice, gradually increasing portion size over the course of a few days. If you do not react to the food, you can add it to your own personal “Bladder Friendly” list.  If your symptoms flare after consuming a problem food, return to the foods you know to be ok for your bladder until the flare passes.

Caution includes foods which trigger bladder discomfort. Try these foods only if your bladder is no longer sensitive.

Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Beverages                         water – test to find one that works for youjuice – blueberry, pearmilk+milk substitutes – almond+, rice, Lactaid+milkshake – vanilla+tea – chamomile+, peppermint+non-dairy creamers – check labeleggnog – non alcoholic+,without problem ingredients juice – low-acid orange, grape, some apple, baby  coffee & coffee substitutes –herbal, low-acid decaf, roasted carob tea – alfalfa, roasted carob soda – root beer with ice (decaffeinated, not diet) sports drinks – test to find one that works for you (e.g., blue Gatorade) alcohol – not only irritating to the bladder but also contraindicated with many IC medicationswater –carbonated, vitamin, flavoredjuice – cranberry, orange, acai milk – chocolate, soycoffee – regular & decafteas – regular, green, herbal, iced sodas – colas, citrus, orange, dietdrink powders – such as Kool-aid®, lemonade, orange, or powdered ice tea drinkssports drinks energy drinks – guarana, mate Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Grains breads – corn bread+, oat bread+, pita, potato bread+, white bread+, Italian sweet bread, whole wheat bread (i.e. Ezekiel)cereals – most cereals without problem ingredients, oat cereal, rice cereal (hot or cold)crackers – matzograins – couscous, grits, millet, quinoa+, speltflours – buckwheat, wheatpasta rice+ breads – rye, sourdoughcereals – instant packaged hot cerealcrackers – without problem ingredientsgrain – amaranth breads – made with unsafe ingredients and/or heavily processed and fortified cereals – heavily preserved, sweetened, heavily fortified, flavored, flour – soypasta  – prepared or boxed pasta dishesrice – boxed dishes Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Fats, Nuts, and Seeds nuts – almonds, cashews, peanutsbutters – almond, peanutoils – canola, coconut, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, sesame, soymargarine lard shortening salad dressing – homemade without problem ingredients nuts – macadamia, pecans, walnuts mayonnaise tahini seeds  – sunflower seeds shortening – butter-flavored nuts – filberts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios oils – check label salad dressings – mos If you have nut or other food allergies, talk with your healthcare provider about your special diet needs. Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Meats, Fish, Poultry, Protein eggs+ poultry – chicken+, turkeyfish+ beef+ seafood – clams, crabmeat (not canned), lobster, shrimplamb+ pork protein powder – whey, egg whitesveal liver – beef or chicken garden/veggie burgers –without soy productsbeef – corned beefsandwich meats – liverwurst, ham (fresh or boiled, without heavy preservatives or flavorings.)bacon anchovies caviar prosciutto sausages – without problem ingredients cured meats – bologna, pepperoni, salami canned crab meat hot dogs sausage – most smoked fish soy products – soy veggie patties, protein powder, tofu Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Dairy, Cheeses, & Substitutes cheeses – American, mozzarella, cheddar cheese (mild), feta, ricotta+, string cheeses+cream cheese cottage cheese+ ice cream+ – mostmilk+ milk substitutes – Lactaidsherbet –  no citrus or chocolate flavorsRice Dream® dessert – vanillawhipped cream – Cool Whip cheeses – blue cheese, brie, brick parmesan, camembert, cheddar cheese (sharp), edam, emmenthaler, gruyere hard jack, Monterey Jack, parmesan (fresh & canned), Roquefort, stilton, Swissbuttermilk sour cream - accent on a baked potato or souppizza - plain, chicken & garlic, veggie or made with white sauce - no pepperoni sorbet yogurt - blueberry, vanilla, plain cheeses – processed, Cheez Whizice cream –  caution with citrus or chocolate flavors soy products – soy milk, soy cheeses Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Fruits & Juices apples – Gala, Fuji, Pink Ladyapplesauce – homemade with Gala, Fuji  or Pink Lady applesblueberries+ coconut – without preservatives dates – without preservatives pears+ watermelon applesauce – commercial or baby apricots bananas berries – blackberries, raspberries, olallieberries cherimoya cherries – fresh, maraschino citrus peels currants figs mango melon – Crenshaw, honeydew peaches plums raisins – brown rhubarb berries – cranberries, mostcitrus  – lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit dried fruit – with preservatives grapes guava kiwi fruit melons – cantaloupe nectarines passion fruit papaya persimmon pineapple starfruit strawberries raisins – golden Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Vegetables asparagus avocado beans – black eyed peas, garbanzo, lentils, pinto, white, most dried beansbeets broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage carrots+ cauliflower celery chives corn+ cucumber eggplant green beans greens – collard greens, kale, mustard greens, okra, swiss chard, spinach, bok choylettuce & most salad greens mushrooms olives – blackparsley peas – green+,  snow peas, split peasbell peppers –  yellow, orange, redpotatoes+– white, yams pumpkin radishes rhubarb rutabaga squash+ – summer, winter,zucchini turnips beans – fava, kidney beans, lima beans, black beansbell peppers – greenolives – greengreens – chicory, dandelion greens, purslane, turnip greensleeks (cooked) onions – white, red, cooked bulb onion, raw greentomatoes – homegrown, low acid watercress chili peppers onions – raw bulb onionspickles sauerkraut soy beans – edamame, roasted tomato – tomato sauces, tomato juice tofu Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Soups homemade soup & stock –from okay meats and vegetables soups – canned, low sodium, organic soups (without problem ingredients) bouillon – cubes, powder canned – most  packaged soups – most Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Snack Foods almonds carrots celery chips (plain) – corn , potato crackers – soda or soup fruit bars – blueberry, pear milkshake – vanilla oatmeal bars peanuts peanut butter popcorn pretzels – plain  donuts – glazed, old fashioned graham crackers fruit & nut bars – with safe ingredients licorice pizza – plain, chicken & garlic, veggie or made with white sauce - no pepperoni chips – potato (seasoned, barbequed) dessert cakes – fast food restaurants Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Desserts & Sweets berries – blueberriescake – homemade pound cake+, angel food+, homemade white/yellow cakes+, carrotfrostings - homemade vanilla frosting, homemade caramel frosting, carob, whipped creamcarob cookies – oatmeal+, shortbread, sugar+muffins – carrotcheesecake creme brûlée custards+ pie – custard, cream pie, homemade apple pie (with safe apples), pumpkin piedivinitysweet breads – homemade zucchini bread+ maple syrup pastries – plain, almond, pear ice cream – peppermint, vanilla+ pudding – tapioca, vanilla+, rice+ milkshake – vanilla+sweeteners – brown sugar, honey+, sugar artificial sweeteners –Splenda® (sucralose)candy – caramel, licorice chocolate – whiteice cream – caramel, coconut, mango, peppermint, butter pecansorbet – coconut pastries – blueberry, cinnamon popsicles – some sweet bread – banana yogurt – frozen artificial sweeteners –acesulfame K aspartame, Nutrasweet®, saccharine, Sweet-N-Low, steviacandy – red hot-type cinnamonchocolate – cocoa, milk, bittersweet, darkice cream – chocolate, coffee, rocky road sorbets – with problem fruitspastries – with problem fruitspie – pecan, mincemeatdesserts – with problem nutsfruitcakes Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Spices, Condiments, Food Additives allspice almond extract anise basil+ caraway seed coriander dill fennel garlic+ mace marjoram+ oregano+ poppy seed rosemary+ sage+ salt in small quantities thyme tarragon vanilla extract black pepper celery seed cilantro cinnamon – powdered citric acid – in small quantities cumin (small amt) dried parsley dried chervil ginger lemon extract mayonnaise malt powder nutmeg onion powder orange extract turmeric ascorbic acid autolyzed yeast BHA and BHT benzoates catsup (ketchup) cayenne cloves chili powder horseradish hot curry powder hydrolyzed protein meat tenderizers miso mustard oleoresin paprika paprika pickles red pepper soy sauce tamari vinegar worcestershire sauce MSG – monosodium glutamate metabisulfites sulfites Bladder Friendly Try It Caution Fiber Supplements acacia fiber Benefiber® Metamucil® – plain psyllium bulk psyllium fiber – not sugar free Colace® Metamucil® - cinnamon wafers Metamucil® – orange, berry burstpsyllium fiber – sugar-free due to the presence of artificial sweetenerssenna

Here is a sample meal plan for someone with IC.

Breakfast: plain oatmeal sweetened with pure maple syrup

Lunch: Egg white omelette with broccoli, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese, served with homemade hash browns (no onions!) cooked in olive oil

Snack: Gala apple with natural peanut butter (no sugar or any additives)

Dinner: Grilled steak (marinated with olive oil, garlic, basil and rosemary) served with asparagus and rice