Diet Suggestions: Do's and Don'ts
Discovering which foods you should restrict can be a lengthy process which requires discipline. you may also want to consider working with a mutritionist and/or a specialist in food and enviromental allergies.
The idea behind cutailing your diet is to avoid foods that may irritate your bladder. Here is a list of some of the suggested items to restrict, followed by foods that a number of Interstitial Cystitis patients have noted do not cause them problems.
Milk/Dairy Products
Avoid:
aged cheeses, sour cream, yogurt and chocolate.
Okay to try:
white chocolate, non-aged cheeses such as cottage or American, frozen yogurt and milk.
Vegetables
Avoid:
fava beans, lima beans, onions, tofu and tomatoes.
Okay to try:
other vegetables and home grown tomatoes (which may be less acidic).
Fruits
Avoid:
apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, citrus fruits, cranberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, rhubarb, strawberries and juices made from these fruits.
Okay to try:
melons (other then cantaloupes) and pears.
Carbohydrates and Grains
Avoid:
rye and sourdough bread.
Okay to try:
other breads, pasta, potatoes and rice.
Meats and Fish
Avoid:
aged, canned, cured, processed or smoked meats and fish, anchovies, caviar, chicken livers, corned beef, and meats which contain nitrates or nitrites.
Okay to try:
other poultry, fish and meat.
Nuts
Avoid:
most nuts.
Okay to try:
almonds, cashews and pine nuts.
Beverages
Avoid:
alcoholic beverages, beer, carbonated drinks, coffee, tea, cranberry juice and wine.
Okay to try:
bottled or spring water, decaffeinated, acid-free coffee and tea, and some herbal teas.
Seasonings
Avoid:
mayonnaise, miso, spicy foods (especially such ethnic foods as Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai), soy sauce, salad dressings and vinegar.
Okay to try:
garlic and other seasonings.
Preservatives and Additives
Avoid:
benzol alcohol, citric acid, monosodium glutamate, aspartame (Nutrasweet), saccharine, foods containing preservatives and artifical ingrediants and colors.
Miscellaneous
Avoid:
tobacco, caffeine, diet pills, junk foods, recreational drugs, cold and allergy medications containing ephedrine or pseudiephedrine.
Although the list of forbidden foods may intially appear daunting, remember that there are still many foods you can enjoy. Many Interstitial Cystitis patients report that they have the least trobule with rice, potatoes, pasta, vegetables, meat and chicken. With these foods as a base for your diet, you can create nutritious and flavorful meals. You can still cook for family and friends and share meals with them because the foods you can eat are the basic elements of a healthy, balanced diet. However, you may need to make some minor adjustments, such as setting your serving aside before adding seasonings. Add a source of fiber to your diet to promote regular bowel movements.
Suggestions
With some imaginative effort, you should be able to come up with substitutions for favorite foods and drinks which aggravate your symptoms. Here are a few suggestions:
- Add a pinch of salt to cabonated beverages to make them flat.
- Try reduced acid orange juice now available in supermarkets.
- Boil down all sauces containing alcohol.