Enjoy Bladder Friendly Sparkling Drinks & Cocktails on New Years

Beware Champagne on New Years if You Have IC, Prostatitis or a Sensitive Bladder

There’s no reason to feel left out on New Years Eve when it’s time to make a toast! You’ll just need to pick the RIGHT glass of bubbly, preferably one that is lower in acid and alcohol than traditional champagne or sparkling wine.

Why? Champagne is well known by thousands of interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder and prostatitis patients as one of the worst bladder irritants and flare triggers due to its high acid and alcohol content. One of the worst IC flares I ever had was after drinking a tiny portion of champagne several years ago and I learned my lesson. If I’m not feeling well and my bladder is acting up, it’s always best to forego any alcoholic beverage, even on special days like New Year’s Eve.

The good news is that there are OTHER drinks that you can enjoy. Here are some tips to help you welcome the New Year in!

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If you’re drinking any alcohol on New Years, make sure you follow it with a glass of water (or two) to dilute the effects.
Have a drink “on the rocks!” Ice/water helps to dilute the effect of the alcohol.
Use Prelief before or after you imbibe.
Make a wine cooler with sparkling water and a lower acid wine/alcohol (i.e. such as Merlot). Avoid the very sweet, more alcoholic white wines.
Try a Sparkling Pear, Blackberry or Apple cider. There are many new brands on the market that are organic and remarkably tasty!
San Pellegrino low sodium, sparkling water with some some blueberries, cucumber or lemon peel.
If beer is more your style, then go with a lighter, pale ale rather than a darker brew.
Consider trying a hard cider, such as a Pear or Blackberry Hard Cider which contains a lower amount of alcohol and are made from lower acid fruits. These can be very tasty!
Say No to Rum and Coke! If you’d prefer a mixed drink, sake is the most bladder friendly according to a research study done several years ago along with the clear, rather than brown, alcohols.
Use IC friendly mixers.

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Just remember the golden rule. If you’re in a flare, stay away from alcohol and acidic beverages entirely!
Fill your champagne flute with sparkling water or a sparkling pear juice instead!

The Happiest of New Year’s To You! May 2014 be a year of healing, hope and love for you and yours!

Jill Osborne MA
ICN President & Founder

By Jill Osborne|2017-01-31T13:26:38-08:00December 29th, 2013|Diet & Food, IC Diet Project, Our Blog|Comments Off

About the Author: Jill Osborne

My Google Profile+ Jill Heidi Osborne is the president and founder of the Interstitial Cystitis Network, a health education company dedicated to interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and other pelvic pain disorders. As the editor and lead author of the ICN and the IC Optimist magazine, Jill is proud of the academic recognition that her website has achieved. The University of London rated the ICN as the top IC website for accuracy, credibility, readability and quality. (Int Urogynecol J - April 2013). Harvard Medical School rated both Medscape and the ICN as the top two websites dedicated to IC. (Urology - Sept 11). For many years, Jill served on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel (US Army) where she collaborated with researchers to evaluate new IC research studies for possible funding. Jill has conducted and/or collaborates on a variety of IC research studies on new therapeutics, pain care, sexuality, the use of medical marijuana, menopause and the cost of treatments, shining a light on issues that influence patient quality of life. An IC support group leader and national spokesperson for the past 20 years, she has represented the IC community on radio, TV shows, at medical conferences. She has written hundreds of articles on IC and its related conditions. Jill has a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a Masters in Psychology, Jill was named Presidential Management Intern (aka Fellowship) while in graduate school. (She was unable to earn her PhD due to the onset of her IC.) She spends the majority of her time providing WELLNESS COACHING for patients in need and developing new, internet based educational and support tools for IC patients, including new live IC Support Group Meetings via Youtube and the “Living with IC” video series. Jill was diagnosed with IC at the age of 32 but first showed symptoms at the age of 12.