Changing your diet is an important way to manage the symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC), commonly called Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). What you eat and drink might affect if, when, and how much your IC/PBS symptoms flare up. You may find it helpful to find out which foods are triggering your symptoms, and carefully change your diet to avoid them.​

There’s no special list of foods that affect IC/PBS symptoms because everyone is different. You’ll have to find out what foods are triggers for you.

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​​​​​How do I find out what foods trigger my IC/PBS symptoms?

Use these steps to look at and change your diet:

1. Use a food diary to track everything you eat and drink for at least 4 weeks. Also keep track of your IC/PBS symptoms, sleep patterns, and how you feel.
2. After 4 weeks, look at your food diary and don’t eat any foods that seem to trigger your IC/PBS symptoms. If you aren’t sure which foods are causing symptoms, start by getting rid of common trigger foods.
3. After 4 more weeks, start adding back 1 food at a time every 3 to 4 days. Write down how it affects your symptoms. If your symptoms flare up, that food is likely a trigger and you should stop eating it.
4. If a food makes your symptoms worse, stop eating it for at least 6 months. After that time, you can try it again to see if it still affects your symptoms.

When adding foods back into your diet, it’s often easier to start by adding back the foods you miss the most. You can also experiment with different amounts of food. Sometimes a small amount of a food will have no effect on symptoms, while a large amount will.

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What are common trigger foods for IC/PBS?

Not everyone reacts to foods the same way. You might not react to a food that causes symptoms in someone else. But research shows that there are some common trigger foods and some foods that are not likely to cause symptoms.

*Friedlander J. et al. Diet and its role in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and comorbid conditions. BJU International. BJU Int. 2012 Jan 11.​

​​​​​What are some tips for changing my diet?

It’s important to change your diet and stay away from foods that you know affect your symptoms. Getting rid of whole food groups can cause more problems than it solves. When you’re experimenting with your diet, remember:

• Removing a food isn’t forever. Try the food again after 6 months. If the food doesn’t cause symptoms after that time, you can start eating it again.
• You don’t have to cut out more foods than you need to. If you stay away from too many things, your diet can get boring, hard to follow, and might even become unhealthy.
• You usually don’t need to cut out a whole food group. Canada’s Food Guide says a healthy diet should include whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
• You should avoid eating processed foods. They have many additives and preservatives that can be IC/PBS triggers. Instead, make sure your diet is built around whole foods.

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​​​​​Where can I get more information?

For more information on how to manage your diet and IC/PBS symptoms, see Canada's Food Guide.