So confused about diet! - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Hollyd · 02-04-2007, 03:33 PM

okay, I'm new to this and I read the 5 basic foods you should avoid but I'm really confused about the "acidic" foods.

I assume acidic relates to ph and that a more alkaline diet should be eaten. Yet when I look at lists of alkaline and acid foods they contradict a lot of foods said to be too acidic for this disease. Are we avoiding foods that in and of themselves are acidic or ones that are "acid forming"?

Here's a list and a quote from a website I found:

"Although it might seem that citrus fruits would have an acidifying effect on the body, the citric acid they contain actually has an alkalinizing effect in the system.

Note that a food's acid or alkaline forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very acidic, however the end products they produce after digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so, lemons are alkaline forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion, but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid forming."

http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/alkaline_foods.htm

That being said, this list says cheese is acid forming but not yogurt. Though in some of my reading here it says some people might not be able to eat either. That would have a lot of negative consequences on bones (i.e. osteoporosis). It also puts tomatoes on the alkaline side. Is it not the acidity of tomatoes that is the concern, but some other aspect?

I've read suggestions that say cut out everything that could be a problem when you're in a flare and slowly add back one thing at a time. I guess I'm not sure what to cut out.

Any help would be appreciated:-)

Holly

Roxie2007 · 02-04-2007, 03:40 PM

HI! Acidic foods.....food with acid are no-no's. Any night shade food...pototos, tomatos, peppers etc...are also no-no foods. Aged Cheeses can really bother the IC sufferer. Yogert is ok....it's not like reg. dairy products. Some times I don't totally understand the WHY? issue.....but use trial and error.....if it hurts...don't eat it! Chocolate, caffeine, carbonation (some people can drink carbonated drinks and some can't) I know this doesn't answer the why questions very well.....just know that these are all the list, and avoid them. Roxie

**kadi** · 02-04-2007, 03:47 PM

If you scroll down the page that contains the five worst IC offenders, you will find a 3-column list of foods, "foods that are usually ok", "foods that are sometimes ok", "foods that are usually problematic" for IC patients.

What worked well for me was to print out the list & eat only out of the "usually ok" column for 3 weeks, til my symptom level dropped. Then I reintroduced one by one foods from the middle column, checking after each one whether it increased my IC symptoms of frequency, urgency or pain. Eventually, I had a complete list of foods that work well for me. I kept it on the fridge til it became automatic for me. My parents also did this when my mom developed IC (about a year & a half after I did) & this helped my dad learn the diet for my mom, so he could cook for her & shop!

You might also consider purchasing the book, "Confident Choices". It's written by a dietician who also has IC (she's one of us!) & it's very comprehensive, gives sample menus & recipes too. You can buy it in the ICN shop, click the link for ICN shop at the top of the page & look for it in the books.

Good luck! I found the diet really reduces my symptoms. Though I do still need other treatments, following the diet is probably my #1 most effective way to manage IC (and there are no side effects, no expensive copays or insurance hassles!).

Hoping you are feeling better soon!

Hollyd · 02-04-2007, 04:09 PM

Thanks to both of you:-)

woweee this is gonna be tricky because I already have fructose malabsorption and the best fruits for that are the citrus ones and I can't tolerate any wheat and am gluten-free as a result. I'm also a vegetarian. I don't know what I'm going to be able to eat!

Well, turning on the printer and gonna get rolling on it. One step at a time, one day at a time I guess.

Thanks for being these

(supposed to see the little angel icon LOL)

Holly

***ICNDonna*** · 02-04-2007, 05:25 PM

I try not to analyze foods. If something bothers me, I avoid it --- I used to go crazy trying to figure out why some specific thing might be a problem when other things are not.

Donna
P.S. I edited your post so the little angel shows.

Wolfe · 02-04-2007, 11:24 PM

I've been living with IC for 17 years now, and I'm starting to get really worried about nutrition.

It has been that long since I've taken a C vitamin, any B vitamins. I haven't had a glass of orange juice in almost 2 years. I miss it! But mostly I'm concerned that my body might be missing lots of things it needs if I avoid all the foods that bother me. And taking vitamins is like pouring acid straight into my bladder!

It seems to me that injectible vitamins would do the same thing -- eventually make their way through my urinary tract. I've seen so much about the IC diet and what to avoid for the sake of not flaring, but I haven't seen anything at all about maintaining nutrition. Can anybody here point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Berkshire Road · 02-05-2007, 02:18 AM

Other food sources of vitamin C are broccoli, bananas, avocados, pears, apples, some berries, kiwifruit, most melons, green peppers, brussels sprouts -- it all depends on what you can tolerate. B vitamins are in leafy green vegetables. Vitamin A is in eggs, milk, sweet potatos, and spinach. Vitamin D is best absorbed from the sun; spend at least 15 minutes outside each day if you can. Vitamin E is in whole grains and leafy green vegetables.

So it all depends on what you can tolerate. You can have a doctor run blood tests for nutritional deficiencies if you're really worried.

Hollyd · 02-05-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICNDonna

I try not to analyze foods. If something bothers me, I avoid it --- I used to go crazy trying to figure out why some specific thing might be a problem when other things are not.

Donna
P.S. I edited your post so the little angel shows.

Thanks for the angel fix up LOL.

I'm trying the drop down smiley menu now. Yesterday I clicked on it from the right. Must be doing something wrong! Maybe it's all the painkillers taken the night before LOL! I'm surprised I can type! :-)

**kadi** · 02-05-2007, 11:51 AM

In terms of trying to maintain nutrition, you can look at the book, "Confident Choices". It's written by a nutritionist who has IC herself. You can buy it in the ICN shop, link at the top of the page.

Wolfe · 02-05-2007, 10:44 PM

Thanks for the nutrition info!
So many of those things are on the "no" list my uro gave me. He and I seriously looked at the list and decided that maybe boiled eggs and water were the only safe foods!

I do try to eat really healthy. And for those who haven't tried Prelief (see the Prelief thread), it really does help prevent damage and/or a flare when you're eating or drinking something that might "hurt."

jen48446 · 02-06-2007, 02:52 AM

I agree with Donna, it's so tricky because we're all different on the inside, that is why some meds work for some & not others. It's a trial & error thing unfortunately, but when you do get the courage to try something try the smallest portion that you can & leave it @ that. Also I would only try one thing @ a time that way if you flare you can pinpoint the "culprit". If you consistently worry about things that won't help either try to relax, I know it's hard as I have genetic anxiety...NOT FUN!!!