IC patients usually spend their first six months to a year discovering the ways in which their IC food triggers are similar to others', and the ways in which their bladder reacts differently. They do this either through random trial and error, or via a systematic approach with an elimination diet. We've outlined here the most common IC triggers as well as a variety of elimination diet approaches and some IC friendly foods.

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How some foods make IC symptoms worse

If you recall the physiology of IC then you understand that IC involves mast cells in the bladder. These mast cells are not unlike the mast cells that line our sinuses and give us hay fever symptoms. Many of the foods on our IC Diet list are quite high in histamine, an irritating substance that can provoke mast cells.

Another problem IC patients may have is increased nerve senstivity in the bladder. Some of the items on the diet list actually stimulate and sensitize nerves, and that's not something we want to do to an already oversensitive bladder.

Dr. Lowell Parsons, a reknown IC researcher at the University of San Diego, has noticed that several foods on the list contain large amounts of potassium. Because some patients' bladders are known to react when potassium salts are instilled in the bladder, Dr. Parsons has suggested that for those patients, part of the problem may be the foods' potassium.

Many people have noticed that some foods on the IC diet list, particularly fruits and tomatoes, contain a substantial amount of acid. Food acids and their potential effect on IC symptoms have been the focus of much discussion over the years. While we don't have any concrete answers yet to questions of why these foods bother IC patients, IC researchers do know that certain explantions for the acid food effect are not credible.

Sometimes referred to "pseudo-science", the myths explaining the acid food effect may sound plausible, but are not founded on known medical facts or unbiased scientific evidence. Typically these myths are touted by someone trying to sell IC patients something.

The pseudo-scientific food myth IC patients run into most often on the internet is the one that claims that IC urine (or the IC body in general) is too acidic and if it was alkaline, the patient wouldn't suffer. Acid foods, it says, bother the bladder because they make the body chemistry, and thus the urine, more acid. In truth, the effect of well-known urinary alkalinizers such as PolyCitra is not universal among IC patients. Some patients say it makes their IC better, others tell their doctors it actually makes their IC worse. What's more, some acid foods make the urine acid while others actually turn it alkaline. Drink a lot of cranberry juice and your urine will reliably turn acid, and if you're an IC patient, your IC will flare up. Do the same with orange juice and your urine will become alkaline. But even though your urine is alkaline, you'll probably have quite an IC flare-up! Why does one acidic food turn the urine acid and the other turn it alkaline? Because each substance is utilized by the body differently.

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The IC Diet: A list of problem foods

The problem foods we've listed below are the most common ones that thousands of IC patients have reported trouble with. Your goal is to determine IF these foods irritate you, perhaps by using an elimination diet! If you are like most, you'll probably be able to eat a few of the foods listed as "problematic". You also might have to avoid a few others listed as "okay". Remember, this list is only a rough guide. Be prepared to be creative with your meals and in your kitchen!

Please note: About 15% of women with IC also have vulvar pain (vulvodynia). Some of the foods in the "May Be Okay" column have high levels of oxalates, which women with vulvodynia react to. Those who don't have vulvodynia typically don't react to the oxalates, so they may have a much easier time getting away with foods in the "May Be Okay" column.

	USUALLY OK	MAY BE OK	USUALLY PROBLEMATIC
Beverages	chamomile herb tea Evian® water pear juice pure Blueberry Juice milk peppermint herb tea	alfalfa tea bottled water herbal coffees lowacid decaf coffee low acid baby juices gin rice milk root beer w/ ice rum tap water vodka	beer carbonatedH20 chocolate milk citrus juices cranberry juice herb tea blends green teas most fruit juices regular coffee sodas soy milk tea wines
Grain Products	buckwheat corn bread couscous matzo millet oat bread oatmeal pasta pitas potato bread quinoa rice spelt white bread	amaranth grits rye bread sourdoughbread some graham crackers w/o problem ingredients whole wheat bread	bread or cereal w/ preservatives soy flour
Fats and Nuts	butter canola oil coconut w/o preservatives coconut oil corn oil margarine olive oil peanut oil safflower oil sesame oil shortening soy oil	almonds almond butter cashews tahini sunflower seeds	filberts hazelnuts macadamia nuts mayonnaise most salad dressings peanuts pecans pistachio nuts English and black walnuts
Soups	homemade soups from ok meats and vegetables	Health Valley® chicken broth Some canned soups w/o problem ingredients	bouillion cubes bouillion powder most packaged and canned soups
Meat, Fish and Poultry	beef chicken eggs fish lamb liver (beef or chicken) pork shellfish shrimp turkey veal	anchovies bacon Canadian bacon caviar corned beef liverwurst prosciutto some sausages w/o problem ingredients	bologna ham hot dogs most sausage pepperoni salami smoked fish
Cheeses and Other Dairy	cream cheese cottage cheese feta mozzarella ricotta string cheeses whipped cream vanilla ice cream	buttermilk canned Parmesan Cool Whip® Monterey jack some sherbets some frozen yogurt Rice Dream®	aged cheeses blue cheese brie brick parmesan camembert cheddar edam emmenthaler gruyer hard jack roquefort sorbet soy milk soy cheese sour cream stilton swiss yogurt
Vegetables and Dried Beans	broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage carrots cauliflower chives collard greens corn cucumber kale lentils lettuce mustard greens mushrooms most dried beans okra parsley peas potatoes pumpkin radishes snow peas split peas summer squash turnips winter squash yams zucchini	avocado beets chicory cooked bulb onions cooked leeks dandelion greens eggplant low acid tomatoes purslane raw green onions rhubarb rutabagas swiss chard spinach turnip greens watercress	chili peppers black beans fava beans lima beans pickles raw bullb onions sauerkraut soy beans (edamame) tomato tomato sauces tomato juice tofu
Fruits	dates w/o preservatives coconut w/o preservatives pears - pear pear bars - pear bluberry bars	bananas blueberries brown raisins cherimoya citrus peels crenshaw melon dried currants Gala apples honeydew mango (small amt) maraschino cherries rhubarb watermelon - cinnamon pear jelly - cinnamon pear maple syrup - blueberry preserves	apricots all citrus fruit cantaloupe cherries dried fruit w/ preservatives peaches most plums most dried figs golden raisins grapes guava kiwi fruit most berries passion fruit papaya persimmon pineapple starfruit
Desserts and Sweets	brown sugar carob carrot muffins or cake creme brulee custards divinity homemade pound cake homemade white/yellow cakes homemade vanilla frosting homemade caramel frosting honey licorice maple syrup pear pastries sugar sugar cookies tapioca vanilla ice cream vanilla pudding Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Cake Mix Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Frosting Mix Dr. Oetkers Corn Muffins Dr. Oetkers Carrot Muffins Dr. Oetkers Apple Muffins Dr. Oetkers Bisquit Mix Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Pudding	banana bread blueberry pastries caramel candies peppermint ice cream plain pastries w/ almonds plain cheescakes some frozen yogurt some hard candies w/o acids some popsicles Splenda® (sucralose) stevia white chocolate	acesulfame K aspartame catsup chocolate coffee ice cream desserts w/ problem nuts mustard pastries w/ problem fruits pecan pie sorbets store-bought fruitcakes mincemeat pie Nutrasweet® saccharine
Seasonings and Additives	allspice almond extract anise basil caraway seed coriander dill fennel garlic mace marjoram oregano poppy seed rosemary sage salt thyme tarragon vanilla extract	black pepper celery seed cilantro cinnamon cumin (small amt) dried parsley dried chervil ginger lemon extract malt powder nutmeg onion powder orange extract turmeric	ascorbic acid autolyzed yeast BHA and BHT benzoates caffeine cayenne cloves chili powder citric acid hot curry powder hydrolyzed protein meat tenderizers miso oleoresin paprika paprika red pepper soy sauce tamari vinegar worcestershire sauce MSG (monosodium glutamate) metabisulfites sulfites

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The two hardest foods to give up

IC patients have long known that foods heavy in acid can induce bladder irritation and a classic "IC flare." Prelief is a dietary supplement that reduces the acid in foods by neutralizing it. It is not a drug. The active ingredient of Prelief is calcium glycerophosphate which, according to the company, has long been considered a safe food additive. The use of Prelief with acidic foods allows persons highly sensitive to food acid to enjoy normal comfortable eating of a regular diet.