Least to Most Bothersome Foods

The food list below includes foods that many IC patients report falling into one of three categories:

• least bothersome (Bladder Friendly)
• okay to eat (Try It)
• most bothersome (Caution). 
  

The list is not a dietary guideline or a meal plan, but rather a guide to assist IC patients in determining their own problem and non- problem foods.

When you are learning about which and how much of specific foods bother you, you may find it helpful to follow an elimination diet.

Download a PDF version of Understanding the Least to Most Bothersome Foods.

	Bladder Friendly	Try It	Caution
Beverages	water – test to find one that works for you juice – blueberry, pear milk milk substitutes – almond , rice, Lactaid milkshake – vanilla tea – chamomile , peppermint non-dairy creamers – check label eggnog – non alcoholic	juice – low-acid orange, grape, some apple, baby coffee – herbal, low-acid decaf, roasted carob tea – alfalfa soda – root beer with ice (decaffeinated, not diet) sports drinks – test to find one that works for you (e.g., blue Gatorade)	alcohol – not only irritating to the bladder but also contraindicated with many IC medications water –carbonated, vitamin, flavored juice – cranberry, orange, acai milk – chocolate, soy coffee – regular & decaf teas – regular, green, herbal, iced sodas – colas, citrus, orange, diet drink powders – such as Kool-aid®, lemonade, orange, or powdered ice tea drinks sports drinks energy drinks – guarana, mate
Grains	breads – corn bread+, oat bread+, pita, potato bread+, white bread+, Italian sweet bread, whole wheat bread (i.e. Ezekiel) cereals – most cereals without problem ingredients, oat cereal, rice cereal (hot or cold) crackers – matzo grains – couscous, grits, millet, quinoa+, spelt flours – buckwheat, wheat pasta rice+	breads – rye, sourdough crackers – without problem ingredients grain – amaranth	breads – made with unsafe ingredients and/or heavily processed and fortified cereals – heavily preserved, sweetened, heavily fortified, flavored flour – soy pasta – prepared or boxed pasta dishes rice – boxed dishes
Fats and Nuts	nuts – almonds, cashews, peanuts butters – almond, peanut oils – canola, coconut, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, sesame, soy margarine lard shortening salad dressing – homemade without problem ingredients	nuts – macadamia, pecans, walnuts mayonnaise tahini seeds – sunflower seeds shortening – butter-flavored	nuts – filberts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios oils – check label salad dressings – most If you have nut or other food allergies, talk with your healthcare provider about your special diet needs.
Eggs, Meat, Fish and Poultry	eggs+ poultry – chicken+, turkey fish+ beef+ seafood – clams, crabmeat (not canned), lobster, shrimp lamb+ pork protein powder – whey, egg whites veal liver – beef or chicken	garden/veggie burgers – without soy products beef – corned beef sandwich meats – liverwurst, ham (fresh or boiled, without heavy preservatives or flavorings.) bacon anchovies caviar prosciutto sausages – without problem ingredients	cured meats – bologna, pepperoni, salami canned crab meat hot dogs sausage – most smoked fish soy products – soy veggie patties, protein powder, tofu
Dairy, Cheeses, Frozen Desserts	cheeses – American, mozzarella, cheddar cheese (mild), feta, ricotta+, string cheeses+ cream cheese cottage cheese+ ice cream+ – most milk+ milk substitutes – Lactaid sherbet – no citrus or chocolate flavors Rice Dream® dessert – vanilla whipped cream – Cool Whip	cheeses – blue cheese, brie, brick parmesan, camembert, cheddar cheese (sharp), edam, emmenthaler, gruyere hard jack, Monterey Jack, parmesan (fresh & canned), Roquefort, stilton, Swiss buttermilk sour cream - accent on a baked potato or soup pizza - plain, chicken & garlic, veggie or made with white sauce - no pepperoni sorbet yogurt - blueberry, vanilla, plain	cheeses – processed, Cheez Whiz ice cream – caution with citrus or chocolate flavors soy products – soy milk, soy cheeses
Soups	homemade soup & stock – from okay meats and vegetables	soups – canned, low sodium, organic soups (without problem ingredients)	bouillon – cubes, powder canned – most packaged soups – most
Vegetables and Dried Beans	asparagus avocado beans – black eyed peas, fava, garbanzo, lentils, pinto, white, most dried beans beets broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage carrots+ cauliflower celery chives corn+ cucumber eggplant green beans greens – collard greens, kale, mustard greens, okra, swiss chard, spinach, bok choy lettuce & most salad greens mushrooms+ olives – black parsley+ peas – green+, snow peas, split peas potatoes+– white, yams pumpkin radishes rhubarb rutabaga squash+ – summer, winter, zucchini turnips	beans – kidney beans, lima beans, black beans olives – green greens – chicory, dandelion greens, purslane, turnip greens leeks (cooked) onions – white, red, cooked bulb onion, raw green tomatoes – low acid watercress	chili peppers onions – raw bulb onions pickles sauerkraut soy beans – edamame tomato – tomato sauces, tomato juice tofu
Fruits	apples – Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady applesauce – homemade with Gala, Fuji or Pink Lady apples blueberries+ coconut – without preservatives dates – without preservatives pears+ watermelon	applesauce – commercial or baby apricots bananas berries – blackberries, raspberries, olallieberries cherimoya cherries – fresh, maraschino citrus peels currants figs mango melon – Crenshaw, honeydew peaches plums raisins – brown rhubarb	berries – cranberries, most citrus – lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit dried fruit – with preservatives grapes guava kiwi fruit melons – cantaloupe nectarines passion fruit papaya persimmon pineapple starfruit raisins – golden
Snacks	almonds carrots celery chips (plain) – corn , potato crackers – soda or soup fruit bars – blueberry, pear milkshake – vanilla oatmeal bars peanuts peanut butter popcorn pretzels – plain	donuts – glazed, old fashioned graham crackers fruit & nut bars – with safe ingredients licorice pizza – plain, chicken & garlic, veggie or made with white sauce - no pepperoni	chips – potato (seasoned, barbequed) dessert cakes – fast food restaurants
Desserts and Sweets	berries – blueberries cake – homemade pound cake+, angel food+, homemade white/yellow cakes+, carrot frostings - homemade vanilla frosting, homemade caramel frosting, carob, whipped cream cookies – oatmeal+, shortbread, sugar+ muffins – carrot cheesecake creme brûlée custards+ pie – custard, cream pie, homemade apple pie (with safe apples), pumpkin pie divinity sweetbreads – homemade zucchini bread+ candy – licorice maple syrup pastries – plain, almond, pear ice cream – peppermint, vanilla+ pudding – tapioca, vanilla+, rice+ milkshake – vanilla+ sweeteners – brown sugar, honey+, sugar	artificial sweeteners – Splenda® (sucralose) candy – caramel chocolate – white ice cream – caramel, coconut, mango, peppermint, butter pecan sorbet – coconut pastries – blueberry, cinnamon popsicles – some sweetbread – banana yogurt – frozen	artificial sweeteners – acesulfame K aspartame, Nutrasweet®, saccharine, Sweet-N-Low, stevia candy – red hot-type cinnamon chocolate ice cream – chocolate, coffee, rocky road sorbets – with problem fruits pastries – with problem fruits pie – pecan, mincemeat desserts – with problem nuts fruitcakes
Condiments, Seasonings, and Flavor Enhancers	allspice almond extract anise basil+ caraway seed coriander dill fennel garlic+ mace marjoram+ oregano+ poppy seed rosemary+ sage+ salt in small quantities thyme tarragon vanilla extract	black pepper celery seed cilantro cinnamon – powdered citric acid – in small quantities cumin (small amt) dried parsley dried chervil ginger lemon extract mayonnaise malt powder nutmeg onion powder orange extract turmeric	ascorbic acid autolyzed yeast BHA and BHT benzoates catsup (ketchup) cayenne cloves chili powder horseradish hot curry powder hydrolyzed protein meat tenderizers miso mustard oleoresin paprika paprika pickles red pepper soy sauce tamari vinegar worcestershire sauce MSG – monosodium glutamate metabisulfites sulfites
Fiber Supplements	acacia fiber Benefiber® Metamucil® – plain psyllium bulk psyllium fiber – not sugar free	Colace® Metamucil® - cinnamon wafers	Metamucil® – orange, berry burst psyllium fiber – sugar-free due to the presence of artificial sweeteners senna

Posted September 11, 2009