Anti Interstitial Cystitis Diet - Foods to Avoid

What are some key elements of a good anti interstitial cystitis diet?

The urinary system is far more sensitive that most people realize; however, this fact is not lost on those who suffer from interstitial cystitis. The pain, inconvenience, and frustration caused by the disorder commonly known as "painful bladder syndrome" make it an exceedingly difficult problem to cope with.

Luckily, because much of the inflammation and issues that occur in the urinary tract are triggered by aspects of one's diet, it is possible to limit the symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC) through dietary modification.

For the majority of individuals - both those with interstitial cystitis and those without - our bladders are sensitive to food. In people with the disorder, their dietary choices are often a significant determinant of the severity of their symptoms.

It has been said that it often takes individuals with interstitial cystitis six months to a year to become familiar with how their bladder is similar to others' - that is, what their specific trigger foods are. Although everyone is different, there are a number of foods that individuals with interstitial cystitis should avoid; these foods are detailed in the "IC diet" or "interstitial cystitis diet".

Elements of the Interstitial Cystitis Diet - Foods to Avoid

The components of the interstitial cystitis diet are divided into several categories that somewhat resemble the food groups. They are: beverages, grain products, fats and nuts, soups, meat / fish / poultry, cheeses / dairy, vegetables / dried beans, fruits, desserts / sweets, and seasonings / additives.

A list of foods in each category of the interstitial cystitis diet that are usually problematic follows:

• Beverages: beer, carbonated water, chocolate milk, citrus juices, cranberry juice, herb tea blends, green teas, most fruit juice, coffee, sodas, soy milk, tea, and wines
  
  
• Grain Products: bread / cereal with preservatives, soy flour
  
  
• Fats and nuts: hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, mayonnaise, most salad dressings, peanuts, pecans, pistachio nuts, English and black walnuts
  
  
• Soups: bouillion cubes, bouillion powder, most packaged and canned soups
  
  
• Meat, fish, and poultry: bologna, ham, hot dogs, most sausages, pepperoni, salami, and smoked fish
  
  
• Cheeses and other dairy: aged cheeses, blue cheese, brie, brick parmesan, camembert, cheddar, edam, emmenthaler, gruyer, hard jack, roquefort, sorbet, soy milk, soy cheese, sour cream, stilton, swiss and yogurt
  
  
• Vegetables and dried beans: chili peppers, black beans, fava beans, lima beans, pickles, raw bulb onions, sauerkraut, soy beans (edamame), tomato, tomato sauces, tomato juice, and tofu
  
  
• Fruits: apricots, all citrus fruit, cantaloupe, cherries, dried fruit with preservatives, peaches, most plums, most dried figs, golden raisins, grapes, guava, kiwi fruit, most berries, passion fruit, papaya, persimmon, pineapple, and starfruit
  
  
• Desserts and sweets: acesulfame K, aspartame, ketchup, chocolate, coffee ice cream, desserts with problem nuts, pastries with problem fruits, mustard, pecan pie, sorbets, store-bought fruitcakes, mincemeat pie, NutraSweet, and saccharine
  
  
• Seasonings and additives: 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, red pepper, soy sauce, tamari, vinegar, worcestershire sauce, MSG, metabisulfites, sulfites

The five "worst foods" (those that are most often complained about by those with IC) are: coffees and teas, cranberry and other fruit juices, carbonated beverages, tomato products, and multivitamins.

Of course, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol are extremely irritating to the urinary system as well, and, although they are not actually foods, they should be avoided as part of any anti interstitial cystitis diet and lifestyle, too.

Many of us fail to recognize that our body's systems are most sensitive than we are consciously aware of. Particularly with regard to the urinary system, many things that occur are a direct result of the presence of certain substances irritating the tissues it contains.

To avoid excessive discomfort, it is wise for individuals who suffer from interstitial cystitis to develop a sense of what foods are most aggravating to them. Avoiding problem foods as part of their anti interstitial cystitis diet should become a major priority so symptoms not only fail to worsen, but also improve!

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