ICN Diet Reference Sheet

Click here for a black and white version of this list

One you've eliminated the top forbidden foods, the IC diet is more individualized. We each have different tolerances to different foods. What complicates the matter are the many of confusing lists from individual patients, companies and doctors passing through the IC community which often contradict each other. We've combined all of the lists that we can find to develop our table below. (Fair warning. If you have a list which says that eggs are bad for IC, it's an older, outdated list and is not accurate. Eggs are fine for IC and, in fact, egg whites are natural acid reducers.)

The problem foods we've listed below are the most common ones that thousands of IC patients have reported trouble with. Your goal is to determine IF these foods irritate you, perhaps by using an elimination diet! If you are like most, you'll probably be able to eat a few of the foods listed as "problematic". You also might have to avoid a few others listed as "okay". Remember, this list is only a rough guide. Be prepared to be creative with your meals and in your kitchen!

Please note: About 15% of women with IC also have vulvar pain (vulvodynia). Some of the foods in the "May Be Okay" column have high levels of oxalates, which women with vulvodynia react to. Those who don't have vulvodynia typically don't react to the oxalates, so they may have a much easier time getting away with foods in the "May Be Okay" column.

	Usually OK	May Be Okay	Usually Problematic
Beverages	chamomile herb tea peppermint herb tea Evian® water pear juice pure blueberry Juice milk	alfalfa tea bottled water herbal coffees lowacid decaf coffee low acid baby juices gin rice milk root beer w/ ice rum tap water vodka	beer carbonated H20 chocolate milk citrus juices cranberry juice herb tea blends green teas most fruit juices regular coffee decaf coffee sodas soy milk tea wines
Grain Products	buckwheat corn bread couscous matzo millet oat bread oatmeal pasta pitas potato bread quinoa rice spelt white bread	amaranth grits rye bread sourdoughbread some graham crackers w/o problem ingredients whole wheat bread	bread or cereal w/ preservatives soy flour
Fats and Nuts	butter canola oil coconut w/o preservatives coconut oil corn oil margarine olive oil peanut oil safflower oil sesame oil shortening soy oil	almonds almond butter cashews tahini sunflower seeds	filberts hazelnuts macadamia nuts mayonnaise most salad dressings peanuts pecans pistachio nuts English and black walnuts
Soups	homemade soups from ok meats and vegetables	Some canned soups w/o problem ingredients	bouillion cubes bouillion powder most packaged and canned soups
Meat, Fish and Poultry	beef chicken eggs fish lamb liver (beef or chicken) pork shellfish shrimp turkey veal	anchovies bacon Canadian bacon caviar corned beef liverwurst prosciutto some sausages w/o problem ingredients	bologna ham hot dogs most sausage pepperoni salami smoked fish
Cheeses and Other Dairy	cream cheese cottage cheese feta mozzarella ricotta string cheeses whipped cream vanilla ice cream	buttermilk canned Parmesan Cool Whip® Monterey jack some sherbets some frozen yogurt Rice Dream®	aged cheeses blue cheese brie brick parmesan camembert cheddar edam emmenthaler gruyer hard jack roquefort sorbet soy milk soy cheese sour cream stilton swiss yogurt
Vegetables and Dried Beans	broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage carrots cauliflower chives collard greens corn cucumber kale lentils lettuce mustard greens mushrooms most dried beans okra parsley peas potatoes pumpkin radishes snow peas split peas summer squash turnips winter squash yams zucchini	avocado beets chicory cooked bulb onions cooked leeks dandelion greens eggplant low acid tomatoes purslane raw green onions rhubarb rutabagas swiss chard spinach turnip greens watercress	chili peppers black beans fava beans lima beans pickles raw bullb onions sauerkraut soy beans (edamame) tomato tomato sauces tomato juice tofu
Fruits	dates w/o preservatives coconut w/o preservatives pears - pear pear bars - pear bluberry bars	apples (mild, sweet such as Gala or Fuji) bananas blueberries brown raisins cherimoya citrus peels crenshaw melon dried currants Gala apples honeydew mango (small amt) maraschino cherries rhubarb watermelon - cinnamon pear jelly - cinnamon pear maple syrup - blueberry preserves	apricots all citrus fruit cantaloupe cherries dried fruit w/ preservatives peaches most plums most dried figs golden raisins grapes guava kiwi fruit most berries passion fruit papaya persimmon pineapple starfruit
Desserts and Sweets	brown sugar carob carrot muffins or cake creme brulee custards divinity homemade pound cake homemade white/yellow cakes homemade vanilla frosting homemade caramel frosting honey licorice maple syrup pear pastries sugar sugar cookies tapioca vanilla ice cream vanilla pudding Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Cake Mix Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Frosting Mix Dr. Oetkers Corn Muffins Dr. Oetkers Carrot Muffins Dr. Oetkers Apple Muffins Dr. Oetkers Bisquit Mix Dr. Oetkers Vanilla Pudding	banana bread blueberry pastries caramel candies peppermint ice cream plain pastries w/ almonds plain cheescakes some frozen yogurt some hard candies w/o acids some popsicles white chocolate	acesulfame K aspartame catsup chocolate coffee ice cream desserts w/ problem nuts mustard pastries w/ problem fruits pecan pie sorbets store-bought fruitcakes mincemeat pie Nutrasweet® saccharineSplenda® (sucralose) stevia
Seasonings and Additives	allspice almond extract anise basil caraway seed coriander dill fennel garlic mace marjoram oregano poppy seed rosemary sage salt thyme tarragon vanilla extract	black pepper celery seed cilantro cinnamon cumin (small amt) dried parsley dried chervil ginger lemon extract malt powder nutmeg onion powder orange extract turmeric	ascorbic acid autolyzed yeast BHA and BHT benzoates caffeine cayenne cloves chili powder citric acid hot curry powder hydrolyzed protein meat tenderizers miso oleoresin paprika paprika red pepper soy sauce tamari vinegar worcestershire sauce MSG (monosodium glutamate) metabisulfites sulfites