The IC 101 Diet Guide explains why the bladder becomes so sensitive to certain foods. It is the first to discuss your risk of diet-induced flares based on your phenotype. We offer the latest IC food lists not only from research studies but also from our own, very long ICN food list (released in 2025), which will show you that there are many foods that you can enjoy without irritating your bladder.
In So What We Can Eat?
We show you how to approach basic food categories. Proteins are usually very bladder-friendly; it’s the sauces, rubs, and marinades that make them more irritating. Vegetables, as a rule, are IC-friendly, though there are some exceptions. We discuss how to approach salads, dairy products, breads, grains, fruits, soups, desserts, and chocolate.
In So What Can We Drink?
We answer many of the questions patients ask. Water, of course, is vital, but not all water is bladder-friendly. Alkaline water, often recommended by uninformed patients, is a diluted bleach that can also erode the bladder over time and cause irritation. Spring water is ideal. We review milk and milk substitutes, coffee, tea, juices and more! Quick tip: Both almond milk and soy milk can be problematic, but coconut milk is not.
In When Diet Conflicts
We share how patients can navigate different diets required with other conditions, such as food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, vulvodynia, gastroparesis and GERD, migraines, TMJ, autoimmune disease, and candida infection. You’ll be amazed at how similar the suggestions are, such as reducing caffeine and alcohol.
The Quality of Our Food
Why do some patients become symptom-free while travelling but then flare as soon as they return home? It may relate to the higher quality of food served in many other countries that require safety testing that the United States does not. The food supply in the USA is rife wth chemical contaminants. In this chapter, we share how to select fruits and vegetables that are the least contaminated with pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Overcoming Fear
It’s not unusual for patients to become quite afraid of eating because of painful flares that they’ve experienced. Worse, some foods seem to be bladder-friendly one day and then cause a wicked flare on another day. Stacey Shannon contributes a fabulous article on overcoming fear that includes how to do a very simple elimination diet to reduce your risk foods, how to test new foods safely, eating out without fear, and how to overcome fear altogether.
Work Your Way Back To Coffee
Coffee lovers often ask when they can drink coffee again. It depends entirely on the health and integrity of your bladder lining. We share our five-step plan to help you determine when it’s safe to resume coffee.
Meal Suggestions
One goal of our guide is to help patients get good nutrition, including balanced portions of protein, vegetables, fruit, and healthier fats. We offer some simple meal planning tips, including breakfast, lunch, healthy snacks, dinner options, how to approach fast food and holiday meals.
Bladder Friendly Spices
Patients who love spices find the IC diet very frustrating because it seems to be quite bland. In fact, many spices are safe for patients to enjoy without risking bladder flare-ups. Generally, it’s the hot spices that are problematic. Bev Laumann, author of the first diet book more than 20 years ago, contributes a chapter on bladder-friendly spices, including how to make your own spice blends.
Foods By Culture
If you love Italian, Mexican or Asian foods, you’ll find several ideas on how to enjoy these rich, flavorful foods again without irritating your bladder. There are always workarounds!
Eating Out With IC/BPS
Are you tired of saying “No” when invited to eat out with family and friends? You can enjoy a great restaurant meal even with IC/BPS. We offer several tips to help.
Wine, Beer, and Spirits
There are low-acid and/or low alcohol drinks that can be more bladder-friendly. We share the results of a large study showing that some IC patients can tolerate lower-acid beers, wines, and even liquors.
How To Get The Book
It’s now available in the ICN Shop as a PDF File ($9.99) or as a printed book ($18.95)
