The following diet is prescribed in order to stabilize the internal environment from pain, inflammation, and microbial overgrowth. It is a very important treatment protocol to be used in conjunction with supplementation. Each person will be guided through the diet in an individual manner, but the following is a very general outline to be used in treatment. At the beginning the diet is most restrictive and during it is broadened as the person improves his or her condition. Reactions to foods will slowly disappear as the person improves. Experiencing dramatic changes in reactions to foods is a very tangible way in which to assess progress for one’s self.
IC Diet and warning for potential irritants in treatment
Meals should be ¼ protein, ¼ starch and ½ vegetables. If you are too thin already, then amounts should be 1/3 protein 1/3 starch and 1/3 veggies. Breakfast may be ½ protein and ½ starch if vegetables are too difficult to consume for that meal.
When moving to the next stage of treatment, do not assume that each change will be tolerated, try one food at a time per day. If you are going to respond negatively, you will likely feel an exacerbation of your symptoms between ½ hour to 6 hours after consumption. These modifications are general. Specific guidance will be given for each individual’s needs.
List 1
Protein: most fresh red meats, lamb, fish (avoid tilapia and FYI-salmon can cause frequency temporarily so wtch for that) and shellfish, and fowl, eggs (NON OMEGA RICH EGGS) avoid pork, cheese should be withheld initially.
Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cucumbers, celery, yellow squash, zuchinni (most tolerate this, but, try it, some do react to this one), green cabbage, red cabbage, Chinese cabbage.
Fats: Butter, olive oil (not extra virgin) is best to cook with and use in salads
canola oil is fine in ingredients of pre prepared food bought at the store.
Starch: potatoes, rice brown or basmati, white OK, but last choice. Bread: yeast and sugar free (spelt/kamut/rice preferably, spelt, kamut and rice pasta also ok, rice cakes, rice crackers. Grains are often not well tolerated in patients at the early onset of treatment. If a grain is not tolerated, remove it from the diet, and try again after a period of abstinence approximating 4 weeks.
Spices: garlic powder that is pure without additives (eat cautiously, sometimes this is too strong for beginners), do not use cooked whole garlic until list 2, dried basil, sea salt or pink salt (usually tolerated in most individuals). Salad dressing should be olive oil, garlic powder (pure), dried basil.
Drinks: Spring water only!
List 2
All foods in list one, plus:
Protein: small amounts of provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese (not the kind packed in water!)
Vegetables: asparagus, arugula, artichokes, all cabbages, brocolli rabe, brocollini, endives, escarole, collard greens, chard, kale, brussel sprouts, spinach, zuchinni, bell peppers-yellow first, then red and cooked first-if ok cooked then try raw, avocado (technically a fruit), cooked onions in small quantities.
Fats: No change.
Starch: limited amounts of wheat pasta.
Drinks: same as list 1, but may try adding in naturally decaffeinated or caffeinated coffee-french roast is best, green tea, black tea or chamomile tea. These each must be tried individually and tested fro sensitivity.
List 3
All foods in list two, plus:
Proteins: more “hard” mild cheeses, plain yoghurt. Milk may be included in recipes, but not be consumed as a drink. After the inclusion of all list 3 foods, try adding in almonds and cashews, if these are ok then the butters from these nuts.
Vegetables: tomatoes (really a fruit-homemade sauce can be made from this), carrots, all bell peppers-make sure you are ok with them, green beans (be careful with this one), spagetti squash, bamboo shoots, turnip, okra, leeks, onions, radicchio, bok choy.
Fats: No change.
Starch: mung bean pasta, and quinoa, white beans and black beans.
Fruits: blueberries, grapefruit, if these are ok, raspberries, bblackberries, and green apples.
Spices: try adding in some very mild spices.
Drinks: Try adding sparklingwater-the less bubbly ones first.
List 4
All foods in list three, plus:
Proteins: no change. Add in more nuts-but not walnuts.
Vegetables: sweet potatoes, yams, beets, jicama, water chestnuts, all squashes (including acorn, bananna, butternut), peas.
Fats: Extra virgin olive oil may be used now.
Starch: some regular breads-with low sugar content, corn, millet, add kidney beans and lentils, yam, yucca (mm yum!) add more snack foods containing ingredients that are on this list such as pop corn, beans.
Fruits: mango, grapes, pears, tangerines, all berries, pineapple, apples.
Spices: try adding in more spices in small amounts. Healthy fruit or agave sweetened goodies in small amounts may be started.
Drinks: earl grey tea.
List 5
All foods in list four, plus:
Proteins: Add in walnuts, but, avoid peanuts almost always! Think about Sushi-make sure you can eat the ginger with the sushi if you do this, and again, this is down the line eating!
Vegetables: all vegetables, please limit soy.
Fats: All fats, try to focus on extra virgin olive oil as a way of maintaining good fats in your diet always. Also add in avocado oil for high heat cooking.
Starch: Add oats and all other beans.
Fruits: all fruit.
Spices: all spices, except added sugar. This should always be avoided as much as possible. If it is in a recipe at a regular meal it is fine, but avoid adding to food or having as a food itself such as cakes, cookies, etc… healthy fruit sweetening substitutes may be implemented. Find agave sweetened ketchup and other healthy condiments. Have fun finding and adding in new healthy foods. There are numerous kinds of healthy alternatives already prepared with fruit as cakes, pies, cookies, bars, etc…See "Gentle Products Guide" for ideas.
Drinks: Healthy drinks. Focus on water water water!
One must keep continued good health with maintaining
If you are flaring make sure you are NOT doing any of the following:
1.Drinking tap or filtered water. Drink ONLY bottled SPRING water!! Glass is best for our environment, but, if you can only afford plastic-that is fine!
2.Having peroxide in your tooth paste, hair color, or any other products
3.Undergoing some kind of treatment such as laser hair removal, whitening cream for your face, tooth whitening protocols, etc…Also, avoid flouride as much as possible.
4.Swallowing your Dairy Free Megadophilus capsules
5.Taking Dairy Free Megadophilus powder that is in the bottle loose
6.Taking the wrong supplement. For example, if Ultra Omegas were recommended, make sure, they are not Ultra Concentrated Omegas, which is not the same. Another common mistake is taking oregano oil instead of oil of oregano. Make sure you take your supplements AS DIRECTED BY DR. BRIZMAN-DO NOT FOLLOW ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. IF YOU RUN OUT OF ONE THING, DONT TAKE ANYTHING!
7.Undergoing any medical treatments or taking any medication or supplements that you have not communicated. For examples are allergy shots may seem unimportant to mention, but is something that is very important to treatment. While starting treatment, it is important to consider whether having certain kinds of medications or vaccinations is appropriate for you-please consult with Dr. Brizman prior to making such decisions. One must weight the pros and cons of the matter and then make a decision that works best for both overall health as well as the bladder.
8.Having unprotected sexual activity, or using condoms lubricated with spermicides.
9.Putting lotion on your body unless it is jojoba oil, olive oil, or Bomasense lotion. Putting antibacterial or antifungal creams on your body on a regular basis.
10.Including anything in your diet that you are not supposed to be having at this point. This includes recreational drugs and alcohol.
11. Eating anything that is not on your list!
If there is confusion over a food, do not eat it until this confusion has been clarified.
For severe pain not related to IC Tylenol or Advil is preferred over Aspirin, but do not overdo this as it is one underlying cause of IC.
At the end of treatment a normal diet may be resumed, but Dr. Brizman always cautions people against returning to old food habits. It is her desire to teach her patients healthier eating habits. SO, processed sugar and alcohol if eaten at all should be reserved for special occasions. There are wonderful ways in which to satisfy that sweet tooth with healthful fruit or fruit sweetened cookies, cakes, or pies. And, sugar substitutes should be a huge “no no”!
Feeding our bodies poor quality food and toxic chemicals, using medications inappropriately, and living out of sync with nature is what creates chronic illness. The ICAMA strives to bring people back to balance. If this sounds like the approach to disease that works for you, then you have found a place to embark on a new path to health.
