Interstitial, or chronic, cystitis (IC) is defined as prolonged inflammation of the bladder wall that causes pain and is often misdiagnosed as a simple, everyday urinary tract infection. Diagnosis timelines can span as much as four years or more, often through eliminating other potential causes of the pain; the cause of IC is unknown. Most commonly, patients are women between the ages of 30 and 40, as women are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition as men. In addition to prescription pain relief, some patients are able to control symptoms through diet changes.
Customized "Clean" Diet
The Interstitial Cystitis Association, or ICA, suggests that self-directed IC patients first start keeping a food diary to determine what foods or drinks may be specific triggers of IC symptoms. In addition, you may be able to determine if there are any foods or drinks that are especially soothing for your condition. In general, patients who want to create a customized diet are encouraged to shop for fresh, organic foods, as many additives in processed items can contribute to IC symptoms.
"IC Friendly" Diet
The ICA has outlined several foods that are considered safe for IC sufferers to consume without worry of causing a flare-up. Items that rarely bother even sensitive IC patients include water, pasta and rice, almonds, cashews and peanuts, blueberries, avocados and American cheese. It is suggested that patients eat and drink only these "friendly" items for at least two weeks and become accustomed to consuming six smaller meals each day. When a food or drink causes a flare-up, it should be included in the food diary as a "food to avoid." Foods and drinks that typically inflame IC symptoms include alcohol, citrus juices, nuts, processed cheeses, flour and bread, chocolate and soy. Conversely, anything that does not cause a flare-up should be included on an "okay to eat" list. In addition, any supplements or other dietary products should be noted in the food diary.
"Challenge" or "Elimination" Diet
After following the list of IC-friendly foods for a couple of weeks, the ICA suggests trying to add some items from its "try It" list to determine if they inflame your symptoms at all. These can include low-acid juices, coffee, pecans, sourdough bread, sausage, Monterey jack cheese, kidney beans, applesauce and yogurt. These foods can inflame symptoms in some patients, so this is the opportunity to customize your IC diet to your body's reactions or lack thereof. Any new item added to the diet that does not cause a flare-up can be added to your "okay to eat" list and you can then test larger amounts of those foods. However, many IC patients determine that they may only have some of these "try it" foods and drinks in small amounts.
