IC & Vitamin C

[tmog]

While avoiding most fruits, citrus fruits, fruit juices...etc.
I'm worried that I might develop a vitamin deficiency or deficiency related disease like scurvy. I was used to getting a weeks worth of Vit C just from one large glass of O.J.

[kadi]

Broccoli & red bell peppers (the sweet ones, NOT the spicy ones) are good sources of vitamin C & are usually tolerated by IC patients.

[tmog]

Broccoli & red bell peppers (the sweet ones, NOT the spicy ones) are good sources of vitamin C & are usually tolerated by IC patients.

Great Thanks! I love broccoli and have been steaming it for the passed several months at least 3 times a week. I guess I've been getting my C without knowing it. I'm used to associating Vit C with fruits/juices. Now, I need to start thinking outside of the box and start researching more.

[kadi]

I just read a "recipe" for carrot & red bell pepper juice - sounds like a great way to get both vitamin A & C. I'm going to throw it in the juicer & see if it tastes good.

[tmog]

Does anyone have problems with the Spring Valley chewable vitamin C tablets? Or the Nature Made Chewable vitamin C tablets? Brand names were listed as an example of the types of tablets I was referring to.

[kadi]

Generally, vitamin C supplements are problematic for IC patients. If you really want to try one, you might want to check out the buffered vitamin C or the Ester-C for sale in the ICN shop.
http://www.icnsales.com/Vitamins-p-1-c-61.html

[tmog]

Generally, vitamin C supplements are problematic for IC patients.


Thanks. I won't try the chewable tablets then. Seems like no one responds to my threads when I ask a general question to ALL members.


Have you tried Ester C?

[Goodnightmoon]

I have tried Ester Vitamin C (NatureSmart).
Works very well for me. I take one pill a day and I have no side effects what so ever.

As for fruits: I had them completely eliminated, but now, I am re-introducing them one for one to understand which ones are really bothering me. I am surprised about how many I can actually take, and I only avoid those which really bother me. It's worth a try for some additional vitamins !!:)

[tmog]

i have tried ester vitamin c (naturesmart).
Works very well for me. I take one pill a day and i have no side effects what so ever.

As for fruits: I had them completely eliminated, but now, i am re-introducing them one for one to understand which ones are really bothering me. I am surprised about how many i can actually take, and i only avoid those which really bother me. It's worth a try for some additional vitamins !!:)

Hi Goodnightmoon, thanks for the info on Ester C. I'm going to try it soon.
And concerning your, reintroducing fruit into your diet. I was wondering how soon after you do this, when will you expect a response? An hour, two, six or longer? I've been wanting to start an elimination diet and slowly introduce foods back into my diet one at a time. I've decided that eating one trigger food could affect your bladder alone. However, I have a notion that eating some trigger foods with certain other foods could actually buffer the trigger foods and not allow it to affect the bladder or minimize the affect. I hope this makes sense to some people. This is a feeling I've had while trying different foods in the last few years while suffering from IC.

Let me know what you think. Thanks again for everything.
:hi:

[KarenAnne]

tmog, I stayed on a very strict IC diet for 7 months & also waited till I was feeling better on a good treatment plan. So just last week I tried adding a few things, one at a time, & found out I can't tolerate a banana yet. But I can have a little ham in my Sunday omelet. The banana bothered me several hours later. And I had it with a cereal that does not bother me, so it did not buffer the effects. You've had this much longer than me though. But I do think that you have to be on the diet awhile to give your bladder a chance to calm down. (Thanks for bringing up the Vit C, I'm going to try Ester C too)

[BT2008]

The two primary substances used to create Vitamin C are Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate.

Most commonly used for Vitamin C, Ascorbic acid is an acid, and being a acid it is very hard on an IC bladder.

Sodium Ascorbate, however, is a buffered form of Ascorbic Acid--basically cut down many times in a baking soda like process--and is therefore much gentler on an IC bladder--while still providing Vitamin C. You will sometimes see this used as a Vitamin C additive instead of Ascorbic Acid.

I had a horrible flare not too long ago from a glass of Ovaltine which had Ascorbic Acid in it! I will never make that mistake again!

But Sodium Ascorbate is the Vitamin C additive used by the makers of Multi-Grain Cheerios, which is the cereal that I eat the most and it does not give me any problems at all!

And tmog--I didn't respond to your post because I have never tried the chewable vitamins! :kissing:

Hugs to all,
~Beth

[tmog]

The two primary substances used to create Vitamin C are Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate.
Most commonly used for Vitamin C, Ascorbic acid is an acid, and being a acid it is very hard on an IC bladder.
..
And tmog--I didn't respond to your post because I have never tried the chewable vitamins! :kissing:
Hugs to all,
~Beth

Oh It's okay Beth. Thank you so much for posting that informative statement about the differences between Vit C. I didn't even know this. I'll try to look at the ingredients listed on the products label more often.
You mentioned the buffered form of C. That leads me to another question concerning Cocoa in Chocolate Milk for example. Cocoa listed as an ingredient in that product says that it was processed with Alkali to neutralize its natural acidity. Would you suggest that it would be safe for IC patients? I wasn't sure if anyone had more knowledge of foods processed with alkali.
Thanks.
God Bless Everyone. :pray::pray:

[ICNDonna]

Most of us find we can get enough vitamin C from foods. Other sources of "C": cabbage, carrots, lettuce, celery, green peppers, apples, pears, apricots. When you read about scurvy from lack of vitamin C, it's usually historical stories about ships when they didn't have fresh fruits and vegetables. It's very rare in today's society.

Donna

[Goodnightmoon]

Hi Tmog,

it's hard to say how long it takes to understand if a fruit is bothering you or not. Depends on how much you eat and if you ate anything with it/after it.

I usually can tell a couple of hours later. I can take apples, watermelons, pears, blueberry and even cherries and bananas with no problems.

HOwever, I never tried oranges (I am not crazy :)) or peaches etc. and I am having a hard time with strawberries, so I have stopped them - even though they used to be my favorite fruits :mad:

As for fruit juices: with juices, I can tell much FASTER. Pure pear juice is fine and blueberry too but other than this - no...

Good luck!! I hope you find some fruits which are okay with you!!!

GNM

[tmog]

As for fruit juices: with juices, I can tell much FASTER. Pure pear juice is fine and blueberry too but other than this - no..

Pear & Blueberry Juices are okay for all IC Sufferers?
If that's the case then I'm going to go out and buy them. I imagine these juices are more expensive then other readily accessible fruit juices like Orange & Apple.

Thanks so much! I love all ya! I wish everyone well!

:pray::pray:

[SharonA]

There is one absolute in the IC department. That is...Not everyone can tolerate the same things. If you are going to try these juices, I suggest you begin with only 1/4 of a cup at a time to see if you are able to tolerate them.

[kadi]

Hi there,
Just make sure when you buy your pear or blueberry juice that it doesn't have other juices mixed in:)

[BT2008]

That leads me to another question concerning Cocoa in Chocolate Milk for example. Cocoa listed as an ingredient in that product says that it was processed with Alkali to neutralize its natural acidity. Would you suggest that it would be safe for IC patients? I wasn't sure if anyone had more knowledge of foods processed with alkali.Hey tmog,

I can't say for sure, but that sounds like the same basic process through which the safer version of Vitamin C is created. I remember also reading in that same article that the reason some companies choose to use the Sodium Ascorbate versus the Ascorbic Acid is simply because it is so much more "dietary friendly" for people with gastric problems like acid reflux. Which, of course, would also apply to IC.

The best--and only--way that I know of to test this "alkalized cocoa" is to give it a try and see if it makes you flare! Yes, you are always taking a chance that it will make you flare, but I have found that if I really want something that I can't be sure of, I have to be my own guinea pig! For example, even though the Puroast Low-Acid Coffee has passed the test of many IC'ers, I still took a chance on it making me flare when I tried it--BUT, I am very happy to report that I can drink it and not flare!!!

So, if you have a craving for some chocolate milk, then I would think that the alkalized version is the safest of them all! Let us know if it passes your IC friendly test!

Hugs,
~Beth

[BT2008]

p.s. I agree with Sharon on the small amount to try first. And I also agree with Kadi that you need to make sure there are no other added juices. When you have a juice such as Blueberry Juice that lists as ingredients: Water, blueberries, and (let's say) apple juice, then the danger may come from the apple juice because it may actually have ascorbic acid in IT!! For some reason, if one processed product is added to another processed product, in many cases, the FDA does NOT require the manufacturer to list the ingredients in the secondary product, such as the apple juice!

I know, that doesn't make sense to me either! Why list the ingredients at all unless ALL of the ingredients are listed! But, sometimes you will see a manufacturer who is kind enough to list all ingredients by adding underneath the main ingredients, what the ingredients are in the other processed ingredient. We have to be VERY careful when eating/drinking anything that is processed which is why I eat/drink very little that I haven't made myself.

My main rule of thumb on processed foods is that the ingredients listed be limited to: [the ingredient I want, such as blueberries], water, sugar, salt. There are a few other additives that are ok, such as fructose, but just be very, very careful!

It can really be tough, and we must become avid LABEL READERS! But, for me anyway, the extra trouble to read each label is well worth it because the PAIN is not worth it otherwise! I can easily buy frozen or fresh blueberries and run them through the blender and have a nice glass of blueberry juice--safely!

By the way: For shoppers who have Kroger grocery stores in their area, their Private Selections Brand has a fantastic deal on frozen blueberries. A large bag is about $9.99, which seems very pricey, but the blueberries are HUGE, very tasty and there are A LOT of berries in each bag! One bag lasts my husband and I well over a week, and we both use them for a lot of different things.

Good luck!
~Beth

[Goodnightmoon]

Hi Tmog,

as the others already told you: no, unfortunately nothing is true for ALL of us.
Still it seems that blueberry and pear juices are fine for many.

However, there are only a few juice brands which offer PURE products (without apple juice mixed and without preservatives and ascorbic acid!!). I know that Trades Joe has a brand without any acid in the blueberry juice. And there is one brand which offeres pure pear juice without ascorbic acid (sorry, not sure how to spell this in English). It is available at Superfresh.

Blueberry juice is also very nice for salad dressings instead of vinegar, but it stains ...

Good luck for your "juice hunt"... Mine took a few weeks...
GNM

[frogla]

Hi, ladies! I am new to this forum and have been struggling with IC for a few years now but was only recently diagnosed.

I think the lemon juice that I've been drinking, for the past few days, has caused a flairup. What do you recommend for flairups? I'm currently doing rescue solutions and elmiron 2 twice a day. Thanks! :)

Heather

[ICNDonna]

Heather, lemon juice would cause a flare for most ICers. Have you checked out the diet information in the Patient Handbook on this site. (The link is in my signature information).

Donna