Interstitial Cystitis and Diet

Interstitial cystitis is a rather common medical affliction of the urinary system and, primarily the kidneys. One of the main functions of the kidneys is to remove any water and waste products from the blood and remove it from the system in the form of urine. This helps stabilize the balance of salts and other substances present in the blood. Although the condition can occur as a primary medical problem, it is also known to develop as a result of some other underlying medical condition such as lupus, scleroderma and fibromyalgia. One of the most noticeable symptoms of the condition is for the sufferer to experience an extremely sharp pain in the bladder as well as a lowering of the amount of urine the bladder can hold and incontinence. Due to the fact that the symptoms are very similar to most other urinary tract infections or problems of the kidneys, the condition is rather frequently misdiagnosed by doctors all over the world. It is also important to point out that the kind of frequency and urgency for the patient to urinate is not the same as that experienced when one has consumed large amounts of fluid, however, an excessive consumption of coffee is known to significantly worsen the condition.

The kind of diet that you consume when affected by this condition will go a long way into helping you recuperate from it. In order to get relief from sudden and sharp discomfort, you can try dissolving about 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water and drink the concoction. This is known to prevent the urine acids from interacting with any damaged tissues. You should also make it a point to drink plenty of water over the course of the day in order to dilute the urine while also avoiding any types of food that contain amino acids that contribute to bladder discomfort and destruction. Some of the kinds of foods and fluids that have these properties include alcohol, apple juice, beer and avocados. Fruits like guavas, grapes, peaches and pineapples should also be avoided. While vitamins and minerals are always very frequently suggested in order to get the body to optimum functionality, the consumption of some vitamins and minerals may actually tend to worsen this condition. One of these vitamins is vitamin B complex which, for reasons yet unknown, causes the condition to flare up. Instead, you should try taking the vitamins individually. The consumption of minerals like calcium and magnesium often do not cause any discomfort to people suffering from this condition.