Ask the Nutritionista: Interstitial Cystitis and Food Sensitivities

“If I eat something that’s bad for me (I have IC so for example acidic food) how long after I eat it will I feel the effect and start hurting?” -Cynthia

Fantastic question!  The short answer is it depends on the person and the trigger.  Unfortunately, there is no universal rule that food x will affect all sensitive people in the same way.  However, most people with IC will start to notice an increase in symptoms between thirty minutes to 4 hours after ingesting the irritating food or drink.  While sensitivity symptoms can arise anywhere from four minutes to four days after eating the food, most people with IC will notice symptoms within twenty-four hours.

Common IC triggers include acidic foods like citrus, vinegar, tomatoes and cranberries; coffee, tea and caffeine, chocolate, chili peppers, most nuts, MSG, carbonated beverages, aspartame, soy and alcohol.

 

How has diet affected your IC?  Do you have a nutrition question?  Your questions might be featured in an upcoming Ask the Nutriitonista article!  Please ask us in the comments below and on Facebook– we love hearing from you!

 

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All material found on www.thenutritionista.ca is intended as general educational material only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition and has not been evaluated by the FDA.  Please consult with your personal physician before implementing any health, nutrition, supplement or exercise program to ensure its safety and suitability for your specific individual situation