Interstitial cystitis, or IC, is a chronic condition resulting in bladder inflammation and urinary disturbance. No singular factor causes this condition, but women are twice as likely as men to develop symptoms. IC is often misdiagnosed as infection because symptoms can present similarly. Diet is linked to IC because certain foods may irritate your bladder wall lining, increasing the pain associated with this condition.
IC Symptoms
Your exact symptoms may vary and occur periodically in response to triggers including stress, sexual activity or dietary habits. Recurring pelvic pain and pressure, urgency to urinate and frequency to urinate are characteristic of IC. The severity and duration of pelvic pain is variable but can significantly impair your quality of life. Treatment for IC can include minor surgical procedures to stretch your bladder and numb the sensitive nerve endings or application of medication that coats your bladder walls to protect it from further damage. Over time the lining of your bladder can crack and lose elasticity. This causes irritation and inflammation when your bladder fills with urine, leading to reduced bladder capacity and further cracking. A damaged bladder lining increases the risk of the toxic chemicals in urine, causing pain and irritation felt in your pelvic region.
Diet and IC
Diet is not scientifically linked to causing IC, but you may find that making changes to your diet can improve recurrence of symptoms. Foods that are high in potassium or highly acidic are the primary culprits in triggering symptoms. According to MayoClinic.com the most common irritants fall are carbonated beverages containing caffeine, citrus or foods high in vitamin C. No specific diet exists for this condition, but you can identify the foods your body does not tolerate well by tracking your symptoms and then eliminating these foods from your diet. Start a food log of suggested items that commonly irritate the bladder. Avoid these foods for two weeks, and then reintroduce them slowly to your diet. If you experience IC symptoms after incorporating a possible trigger food, you may want to take this food out of your diet.
IC Irritants
The following foods are commonly known to be symptom triggers in IC, though they may not necessarily cause you bladder disturbance. Consult your physician before changing your diet to determine the best plan of action in changing what you eat. Foods with additives, preservatives, artificial ingredients or colors can trigger symptoms. This includes fortified bread or cereals, canned, cured or packaged lunch meat, processed cheeses and snack foods like potato chips. Additionally, anything with artificial sweetener like aspartame, monosodium glutamate or nitrates increase the risk of bladder irritation. Acidic fruits and fruit juice like cranberry, orange or grapefruit is an irritant. Be wary of cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple and grapes as well as pickles, tomato or tomato juice and onion varieties. Alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea and soy or chocolate milk may also induce symptoms. Although some of these irritants are part of a healthy diet, they may not be good for you. You should determine the foods to avoid based on your specific food tolerance.
IC Safe Foods
Corn, oat or potato-based breads, buckwheat, pasta and rice are not bladder irritants. Poultry, fish, eggs or beef may also help to ease IC symptom flares and are safe for regular consumption. Prepare your meats or vegetables with seasonings that are not spicy, like basil, garlic, sage and rosemary. Fresh celery, carrots, broccoli and green beans are hearty vegetables you can consume, but carefully choose your greens because some, like turnip greens, may irritate your bladder. Water, blueberry and pear juice are beverages you may find safe. You can consume certain sports drinks, but others can trigger flares. Design a diet that works best for you with the help of your physician to balance your nutritional needs, especially if you must eliminate healthy types of foods from your diet.
