Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition that involves inflammation of the bladder wall. If you have been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, you may have noticed that some foods seem to make your symptoms worse. Certain foods have been identified as being irritating to the bladder, but which foods trigger symptoms varies according to the individual.
Symptoms and Prevalence
Symptoms of interstitial cystitis can include urinary frequency and urgency, discomfort when urinating and pelvic pain, including pain during intercourse. Women are more likely than men to get interstitial cystitis. The University of Maryland Medical Center says approximately 500,000 people have interstitial cystitis, with two of every three sufferers being between the ages of 20 to 50. Over time, the bladder can become stiff and scarred, or even develop ulcers and bleeding.
Causes
No one has identified a definite cause for interstitial cystitis. The inner lining of the bladder is normally resistant to the potentially damaging effects of urine, but it may be that certain events can damage the lining and allow urine to leak into the wall. Such events can include trauma to the bladder or spinal cord, autoimmune disorders, bacterial infections, inflammation of the pelvic nerves, bladder overdistention or problems with pelvic floor muscles. Such leakage of urine would, in turn, cause more damage, leading to the chronic pain and other symptoms of interstitial cystitis.
Food Triggers
Among the foods identified as bladder irritants for people with interstitial cystitis are aged cheeses, fava and lima beans, chocolate, onions, rye and sourdough breads, sour cream, soy products, tomatoes and yogurt. Processed meats, such as any containing nitrates, can irritate the bladder and trigger an interstitial cystitis episode. Other potentially irritating foods are all nuts except almonds, cashews and pine nuts, and seasonings containing MSG. Citrus juices and all fruit except blueberries, pears and honeydew melon may be irritants. Cranberry juice is one of the worst offenders, even though it is often used for a urinary tract infection. This presents a problem since interstitial cystitis is often misdiagnosed as a UTI. Finally, artificial sweeteners, coffee, tea and alcohol can be irritants.
Identify Your Triggers
If you think diet may be irritating your bladder, try eliminating all the foods you normally eat that have been identified as potential irritants for people with interstitial cystitis. After two weeks, begin adding them back into your diet one at a time. Start with a small amount of one food. If it causes no problems, increase the amount. It can take several hours for symptoms to become obvious; while waiting, do not eat any other food that could irritate your bladder. Keep a list of the foods you try, noting which ones cause problems and which ones you can eat. With some foods, you may find you can tolerate small amounts, but not larger ones. Make a separate list of those foods.
