Beverages

• Certain drinks can irritate the bladder lining and cause pain in the already sensitive bladder lining. Beverages such as beer, chocolate milk, alcohol, coffee, wine, tea, citrus juices, cranberry juice and sodas can cause irritation and prolong inflammation.
  
  

Meat, Fish and Vegetables

• Certain meats and fish, especially those that are heavily processed, can cause bladder pain. These foods include hot dogs, bologna, ham, sausage, pepperoni and smoked fish. Vegetables that may irritate the bladder include chili peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce and juice, pickles, sauerkraut, black beans and lima beans.
  
  

Fruits and Nuts

• Many types of fruits can aggravate the bladder because of the acids they contain. These foods include all citrus fruits, cantaloupe, plums, cherries, pineapple, papaya, persimmon, grapes and kiwi. Black walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts and pistachio nuts can also irritate bladder walls.
  
  

Desserts

• Desserts that may cause pain in the bladder include chocolate, coffee ice cream, sorbet, pastries with "problem" fruits and anything containing NutraSweet.
  
  

Food Diary

• Keeping a food diary can help you ascertain which foods aggravate your interstitial cystitis. Write down every food and beverage you ingest each day and flag any food item you suspect causes pain. This procedure will help you learn which "trigger" foods to avoid.
  
  

Acidic Relief

• Acids are the common thread in most forbidden foods in the interstitial diet. A dietary supplement called Prelief may help when it's hard to give up that morning cup of coffee or your chocolate fix. Prelief is taken before meals, and help reduce the acids in foods or beverages by neutralizing them. Over-the-counter acid reducers may also provide some relief.
  
  

Good Foods

• Although there are many foods you should avoid when suffering from interstitial cystitis, there are plenty of foods you can eat with no problems. These foods and drinks include beef, chicken, eggs, shrimp, turkey, vanilla ice cream, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, yams, corn, pumpkin, carrot cake, honey, sugar cookies, vanilla pudding, Evian water and chamomile tea.