Interstitial Cystitis Diet

Symptoms of interstitial cystitis may be aggravated by specific foods. Eliminating foods that are known bladder irritants is a key step that may help improve your symptoms. Besides avoiding the foods below, it is important to drink at least six glasses (approximately 48 oz) of fluid per day. Make sure you have one glass prior to bedtime so that your urine will remain diluted overnight.

Foods to avoid:

• alcohol
• apples
• cantaloupe
• carbonated beverages
• chili
• chocolate
• citrus fruits
• coffee (decaf also)
• cranberries
• grapes
• guava
• fruit juice
• mayonnaise
• Nutrasweet
• peaches
• pineapple
• plums
• strawberries
• tea
• tomato juice
• spicy foods
• vinegar
• Vitamin B complex
• Vitamin C

Substitutions:

• Low acid fruits: pears, apricots, papaya, watermelon
• Coffee drinkers: KAVA (low acid instant) cold brew from Starbucks
• Tea drinkers: non-citrus herbal sun-brewed tea
• Vitamin C substitute: calcium carbonate co-buffered with calcium ascorbate