If you have recently received a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, you may or may not have heard of the interstitial cystitis diet. At the appointment following my cystoscopy, I remember my urologist saying, “You can try following the interstitial cystitis diet, but it doesn’t work for everyone.” The only other option he presented was to try the drug Elmiron, which like the IC diet, I was told, doesn’t work for everyone and has side effects. How’s that for hope!
At the time of my diagnosis I was 20 and let’s just say the list of foods to avoid with interstitial cystitis was too extensive for a university student to follow strictly. Avoiding take out pizza and all canned and packaged items with preservatives was next to impossible at the time. Years later, when I did begin to follow the diet more strictly, I noticed an improvement in my frequency and this gave me hope; however, through a lot of trial and error and formally studying nutrition, I realized that there is more to the optimal IC diet than was being presented.
My approach to the interstitial cystitis diet
Today, as a nutritionist, I believe that most resources out there for the interstitial cystitis diet, while very helpful as a starting point, are missing something and are not very holistic in nature. A holistic approach to the IC diet would also speak to what foods to include for optimal bladder healing and for rebalancing the body. In this post, I will share my top 10 foods to avoid with interstitial cystitis. I’ve written more about the best type of diet for IC, including what foods are most healing in my free course, 4 Weeks to IC Relief.
Top 10 foods to avoid with interstitial cystitis
1) Coffee (regular and decaf)
There are two main reasons why all coffee must be eliminated:
a) Caffeine! Caffeine can stimulate spasms in sensitive nerves and muscles (including those in the bladder). Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands and the production of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, which are stress hormones linked to aggravating an IC bladder. Caffeine is also a diuretic, meaning it causes more frequent urination.
Even small amounts of caffeine can trigger a bladder flare, leaving you with excessive urination and pain for hours. It might take some time to ween yourself off of coffee, especially if you are dependent on it to feel awake and productive. Caffeine is addictive. Try to ween yourself off of it slowly to avoid experiencing any extreme withdrawal symptoms.
b) High acid content. Both regular and decaffeinated coffee are acidic and therefore highly irritating to an IC bladder. Eventually, you can experiment with low-acid brands of decaf coffee. But for now, I highly recommend eliminating both.
2) Tea (regular and green tea)
Like coffee, regular tea and green tea contain caffeine and are acidic. They contain a substance called tannic acid, both of which are IC triggers.
Most herbal, non-caffeinated teas should be okay. Chamomile is safe for most people with IC, as is peppermint. Marshmallow root is very soothing for the urinary system and licorice root is supportive to the adrenal glands.
3) Chocolate ☹
This is where you might be trying to run for the hills and make your escape! Unfortunately, chocolate is a very common IC trigger due to the same reasons as coffee and tea – it contains caffeine and is acidic. In addition, most chocolate products will contain a large amount of sugar (pro-inflammatory and feed yeast known as Candida), dairy (a common allergen and pro-inflammatory), as well as preservatives. Lastly, chocolate is high in histamine, which triggers the mast cells usually present on the IC bladder.
You can try small amounts of high quality organic white or dark chocolate, as they will contain fewer preservatives and potentially no dairy.
Carob can replace chocolate in a recipe and you might be able to find pre-made carob products at your local health food store.
4) Carbonated beverages, energy drinks and vitamin waters
Carbonated beverages contain citric acid, preservatives and flavorings, all of which are highly irritating. Diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, also a known IC trigger. Other common ingredients in these types of drinks that can be problematic include caffeine, multivitamins and sugar.
5) Alcohol
Alcohol is acidic and inflammatory. Just think about how much it increases urinary frequency in people without interstitial cystitis! Red wine, in particular, is high in histamine. Histamine is irritating to mast cells, which are usually found in larger numbers on an IC bladder.
Alcohol is dehydrating and hydration is key to washing away excess toxins and acids from the body. Individuals with IC often have acidic urine, indicating that their acid-alkaline balance is off. An acidic body is often a tired and painful body.
6) Acidic fruit (including fruit juices)
Although most fruits are alkalizing to the body after they have been metabolized, they still contain acids that irritate a wounded IC bladder. Blueberries and pears are your best options for now and definitely avoid citrus fruits at the moment.
TOMATOES are especially nasty and should be strictly avoided. This isn’t an easy task because many popular dishes, especially at restaurants, contain tomatoes. In place of tomato sauce for at home use, you can try making this easy pesto sauce from Everyday Maven. I suggest taking out the red pepper flakes.
7) Spices, seasonings, nitrites and nitrates
Hot peppers, spicy foods, chilli, horseradish, vinegar, MSG and soy sauce should be avoided. Just think about placing any of these substances onto an open wound…ouch!
Opt for organic herbs such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil and tarragon. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and therefore beneficial for IC; however, each case of IC is unique and therefore use caution when testing herbs and spices.
Cinnamon is another spice to be cautious of, but it might be tolerated in smaller amounts. Sea salt should be tolerated, but black pepper is usually an IC trigger due to its high oxalate content.
Nitrites and nitrates are preservatives found mainly in processed meats that trigger IC symptoms. Opt for fresh meat or meat that is specifically labelled “nitrite and nitrate free”
8) Artificial sweeteners
Most people with IC react negatively to sugar substitutes and they are best avoided due to potential side effects and negative health consequences. Avoid any artificial sweetener, including Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Sugar Twin), Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet and Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet), Sucralose (Splenda), Neotame (chemically related to aspartame) and Acesulfame K.
9) Vitamin C, B6 and multivitamins
Vitamin C, especially in its ascorbic acid form is a bladder irritant, as is Vitamin B6. Multivitamins usually contain these two vitamins. You might be okay with a buffered vitamin C, such as Ester-C. For the most part, it is safer to get your vitamins from fresh fruits and vegetables and other whole food sources.
10) Foods with high allergenic potential
Eliminate gluten, corn, soy, dairy, eggs, nuts, nightshades (tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes and eggplant), citrus and yeast (baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast and fermented products like vinegar) for a trial period of 3 months. It is also worthwhile to look into getting a food sensitivity panel done to determine all of the foods you are reacting to. Food allergies are common in IC patients and allergies cause mast cells in the bladder to release histamine, leading to inflammation and pain.
How long do I need to avoid these IC triggers for?
If you are in the beginning stages, with an extremely sensitive and painful bladder, you will probably need to eliminate these common triggers for at least 3 to 6 months.
Be sure to check the labels on any packaged food items to see if they contain any of the IC triggers listed above.
As the bladder begins to calm down and heal, you will have a better idea as to what foods are safe and unsafe for you. In the beginning, you will most likely be flaring from most of the foods and substances I mentioned. When you are symptom-free for a period of time, you can begin to reintroduce foods that you have been avoiding.
The good news is that the IC diet is actually a “cleaner” diet because you must avoid certain foods and substances that are harmful for everyone, such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives and alcohol. These can continue to be avoided for optimal health. Some of the allergenic foods, like gluten, soy, corn, conventional dairy and yeast may be avoided long term as well, as they are not exactly “health foods.”
To give your bladder the best chance to regenerate and heal, you can’t stop at avoiding the top 10 foods. In my course, 4 Weeks to IC relief, I talk delve into exactly how to optimize your diet for IC healing.
You did not mention nuts. I have seen many IC diets that claim you can not eat pecans, walnuts, etc. What is your option on these?
Thank you
Hi Joy,
I was only focusing on the top 10 to avoid in this post. You are right, some people do have a problem with nuts because those of us with IC tend to have food sensitivities and allergies and nuts tend to be quite high on the allergen list. The most well tolerated seem to be almonds, cashews and peanuts, but some people can tolerate other nuts as well. It is something you can eliminate in the beginning stages and then try to add back in once your bladder is in a more calm state and not in a flare and see what happens.
Hope that helps!
Kristen
I recently started making “green” drinks with spinach, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sweet coconunut, 1/3 apple, 1/2 avocado, 1 cup almond milk. I was told to avoid peanuts as they are supposed to be an inflammatory. Do you think the spinach (highest in oxilates) would contribute to IC inflammation & pain? And what about the walnuts, sunflower seeds & pumpkin seeds? I am trying to go healthy & IC does not leave many options for juicing green drinks it seems
Hi Lora,
Not everyone with IC has trouble with oxalates. You can get a 24 hr urine test done to see if it is high in oxalates. Nuts can be allergenic and therefore many people with IC seem to have a problem with them. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds should be okay, but everyone is individual. Pumpkin seeds are more anti-inflammatory than sunflower seeds so you could consider using them more frequently than sunflower seeds.
Kristen
I have no problem with nuts of any kind but I dslike peanuts. Hot spices and vinegar when mixed in food are OK for me.
Hi Toni,
Thanks for sharing what works for you. You are lucky that you do not react to vinegar and hot spices!
Kristen
I was doing really well for about a year with IC. I was staying away from red dyes (like in my favorite Red Velvet Cake & Boston Bake Beans which my husband was buying cases of). But for some reason over the past week, I had a serious inflammation. I don’t know if it’s the walnuts I starting put in my oatmeal (i’m okay with peanuts and almonds and cashews) or the red pepper flakes and Feta cheese we tried with bell peppers. Then, thinking I may have a bladder infection I drank tons of cranberry juice, too. I forgot how it makes IC worse. Wow I feel awful! I think I better stay away from all that and the Orange Gatorade at the baseball games.
Thank you for taking the time to put this info out there, I have an on/off relationship with this for the best part of 5 years, it seemed to have started after some excessive dental work, I was just wondering if you has any input regarding excessive use of Novocain and it’s potential side affects ?
Kindest Regards
James
Hi James,
I am not too familiar with Novocain and its side effects. Perhaps discussing this with a knowledgeable pharmacist may help? When you had dental work done, did it involve removing or adding in mercury fillings?
Kristen
i have also dealt with this for the last four years or so. my biggest trigger food turned out to be bananas. second on the list, red wine. if i avoid these two triggers i find i can eat everything else in moderation. bananas put me on the floor, though!
interesting that James correlated this to dental work. i had extensive dental work about 5-6 years ago, which was a year or so before my IC symptoms emerged; removal of amalgam fillings, porcelain crowns, and several root canals. i’ve long wondered if there’s a connection.
Vyvyan it sounds like you are making some great connections and getting insight into what your causes and triggers are. Infrared sauna and gentle detoxing may be something to look into!
When amalgams are removed it releases a lot of mercury. I am so started to get sick ( with different symptoms) after an extensive root canal where a large Mercury filling was drilled out. Also dental work opens you up to lots of bacteria entering. Root canals are dead teeth with no blood flow so bacteria can pool there too
Yes if you have root canals it may just be that you are continuously re-introducing the pooled bacteria into your bloodstream by chewing and brushing. These bacteria ride the bloodstream like a superhighway to sites they have affinity for such as the urinary tract.
This is so interesting to me. I only had one mercury filling to be removed and we followed the safety precautions but ever since then I have had ear infections, urinary tract infections or interstitial cystitis (or both?), vision problems, my teeth have shifted and I get pain in my gums. When I get on an antibiotic for the ear / uti problems the gum pain goes away so I think there is an infection in there.
Hi James,
I often get flare ups after dental treatment. I find I get the type of flare up cause by muscles. I believe this happens because of tensing your muscles without realising. Try some relaxing techniques before dentist visits.
I am having a food sensitivity test done next week….if it comes back that I am not allergic to some of the most common allergens, is it okay to eat those things? Also, I find out in 2.5 weeks if my IC flare is hormone related…we are pretty sure it is. I have mild IC, but I’m currently experiencing my first flare…it’s been going on since November. Before that…I was diagnosed in 2006 with mild IC…I ate and drank whatever I wanted and only had frequency…but not too terrible. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. I am so glad for websites like your that give us hope! I’m currently seeing an Integrative Medicine Specialist who is also a nutritionist…hoping for some relief soon!
Hi Brittany,
It sounds like you are in good hands! I really hope you get some relief from this flare soon. Whether or not you should eat those common allergens is something you should discuss with your integrative medicine specialist/nutritionist. I would stay away from the big three, which I consider to be gluten, dairy and soy at least until you are out of this flare.
Kristen
Hi, what about coffees that are acid free?
Thanks
Allison
Hi Allison,
Some can tolerate low-acid coffees, but you will have to see what works for you. Both the caffeine and acidity of coffee are triggers. Teecino also makes coffee/tea substitutes that are herbal and have an alkalizing effect on the body. You may want to check that out!
Kristen
I was just diagnosed with IC and I am being treated with a Dimethyl Sulfoxide 50% INJ every two weeks for 6 treatments. The first treatment stopped the terrible burning in my vargina after months of suffering, however I’m going on my fourth treatment and still feel so much heat in my lower abdomen so much that my urine is hot. I’m also on a very restrictive diet and follow it closely but my doctor ran some blood tests and my B6 is triple the amount that I should have in my body. I’m not taking any extra supplements and I don’t know where the B6 is coming from. I just learned about that so now I gave up eating some foods that agree with me like, walnuts, cantaloupe, and bananas. I really don’t know what more I can do? Does anyone else have the burning of heat in lower abdomen?
Hi Evelyn,
You should also look into whether or not oxalates are a factor for you because you mentioned burning in your vagina which could indicate vulvodynia. This is quite common amongst those with IC. You could try incorporating more cooling foods as tolerated, like watermelon and cucumber. Cold packs may be helpful too. Taking supplements to lower inflammation, like fish oil and curcumin, may help.
Kristen
I was just diagnosed with I.C. today after I had a Hysteroscopy and a Cystoscopy. I also had some ulcers in my bladder that were removed. I am just wanting some advice about where to start, as far as diet. I don’t see my doctor until the end of next week, so kinda want a little bit of information before I talk to her. Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks!
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
You can review the standard IC diet on the ICA or IC Network website. That will give you a good basic starting point. You might also want to look at this blog post I wrote: http://healinginterstitialcystitis.com/what-to-eat-with-ic/.
I realize that my reply is a bit late, so I apologize for that! I hope your doctor’s appointment went well.
Kristen
I have had IC since high school and am in my late 30’s. I have gotten a lot better through watching my diet, but I still have occasional flares. I recently figured out that by body can’t process sulfites well. That explains why wine, soda, citric acid, grapes, etc hurts me so badly. Coffee and chocolate are high in thiols which reacts like the sulfites do. I also have an issue with my body turning excess protein into ammonia (protein breaks down into amino acids and then my body turns it into ammonia). That is hard on my kidneys and bladder as my body tries to remove the ammonia from my system.
Eating low sulfite, low thiol foods and watching my protein intake has allowed me to get off of several of my IC meds. I am curious how many other folks with IC have similar metabolic issues!
What I have learned from personal experience and reading message boards is everyone is different. There is NO protocol for this condition. Some people have returned to normal gluten-free, eliminating sugars and controlling stress….others have found eliminating soy and dairy was tremendously helpful. Still others have found some other set of combinations to bring relief.
What is a commonality in MOST, not all, is that they have some issue with sulfur and more specifically thiol sulfur foods…chocolate, dairy, soy, certain grains, tea, all of your dark green vegetable, all of your cruciferous vegetables….We have been told that these foods are healthy and everyone should eat them. BS! Everyone is different. I was in such pain, I eliminated sugar, gluten, meats…all but beans and colorful vegetables, trying to figure out what would bring me relief. What happened? I became SICKER! This was confounding to me. A friend convinced me to take the 23andme test and it found that I was MTHFR & CBS, two very problematic gene mutations, particular when they are together. One or both are actually quiet common in those of northern European ancestry and rates of these SNP’s (mutations) are higher with those of Northern European ancestry that the rest of the world’s population. It should also be noted that those of European ancestry also have higher rates of IC than the rest of the population. Causal? There have been no such studies and I would be careful to say it is much more than mild correlation, as there are so many other variables in play.
Anyway, I get considerable relief from eliminating thiol foods. If I am strict about it, I can have periods of normalcy. No meds, etc. The challenge is, it is really, really hard to live without these foods. They are ubiquitous. I have lived off of broccoli, for example, since I was born. It is one of my favorite foods. Coffee…chocolate…tea…spinach…kale…beans…dairy… hell, this was my diet for most of my life. I can’t help but read some of the posts here and feel many of you are in the same boat. Morgen? b6 sensitivity? Check the box. Lemons and other citrus? check the thiol box. Eggs? yup…those as well. Soy? uh huh…red wine? si senor.
Here are a couple of others for me that may surprise. Turmeric…this is a serious one to be avoided for me. B6 is one of the main indicators. B6 not only makes me hyper. It gives me insomnia and lights a fire in my urinary tract. Peanuts and Beans are thiol whoppers.
Listen, I don’t want people to think this is a panacea fix. We are all unique organisms and need to figure out for ourselves what works. I would highly recommend getting one of the genetic tests done, though. If you have a transulfation pathway issue, it will be one more factor in understanding how you should eat and could put you on a path to better controlling the IC.
Thank you for the information and insight you provided here! Is there a lab that you suggest to get such genetic testing done?
I just tried warm milk with honey 1 teaspoon local.and it seems to realy help the pain and discomfort.has anyone else tried that.
What are the best way to relieve the discomforts,cramping and burning?any suggestions of what to eat or to do?thankyou.
Hi Dee,
You can sign up for my 4 week course here that will help you to begin to deal with IC naturally – http://healinginterstitialcystitis.com/sign-up. There are also tons of blog posts here and other resources online for you to turn to.
Kristen
Non stop uti’s. take antibotics as soon they gone it returns HELP.
Hi Sherry,
You might want to try D-Mannose, Check out this blog post – http://healinginterstitialcystitis.com/d-mannose-for-ic.
Just wondering wher I can get a list if all the vitamins and nutrients that are bad for IC? Thanks so much. Your website has helped a lot.
Hi Linda!
I am not sure if such a comprehensive list exists and it would be difficult to rely on such a list because we don’t all react to the same things. I would check the IC Network. They may have compiled a list that will be a starting place for you.
Asparagus ! It seems to metabolize into chemicals similar to DMS which is used to treat IC. It does see to help me.
I am Type II Diabetic and was diagnosed with IC about 1 year ago after an episode of severe bleeding from Hunners. Since then I have had a lot of pain and frequent urination as well as constant thurst. I found that two 16 ounce glasses of Unsweetened Almond Milk per day eliminated the pain and also decreased the frequency. Even though I still have to use a bed and leg bag my voiding has decreased from every 15 minutes to several hours and I am getting much more sleep.
Hi Paul,
What an improvement! That’s great 🙂 Just curious, when you added in the almond milk, did you eliminate dairy?
Kristen
For the last few years I had UTIs that would immediately cause me to pee blood. I’d suspicioned that I had food allergies, too, because my throat was sore/swollen all the time and I could not sing and my voice would fade away by end of day. At the same time, I discovered that laundry detergent caused my vagina swell and burn and I couldn’t tolerate almost any perfumes and household chemicals and sulpha meds (Urinologists prescribe them for UTIs.)! Then eventually I started feeling burning vaginal pain after drinking margaritas but just assumed the limes were just strong. Now I have the urgency and burning pain in my pelvic region and so my doc is treating with IC meds. I won’t take the Elavil antidepressant because of reported extreme weight gain or Elmiron due to reported hair loss (My hair is already thinning too much and I’m only 46.). Sex causes me to flare and I’m a newlywed! 🙁 I went a couple days with very little pain and then I ate pecans and strawberries and who knows what else and the pain is back again! I’m suspicioning nuts are a flarer and I know alcohol is. I’m thinking that with many years of severe stress dealing with a very ill loved one, that my immune system went down and now… IC! Horrific and depressing. And it is depressing, also, to know that I will practically have to starve myself and possibly have no sex to live in Relative comfort. It is comforting to know that I’m not alone. God bless, fellow IC warriors.
Hi Alexandra,
It’s rough, I know, but it can get better. I hope you are able to improve over time!
All the best,
Kristen
Hi, im loving reading all the comments, thank you . I suffer constant uti’s , does IC sufferers urine sample test positive for bacteria or is IC not related to bacteria at all, is there a connection between bacteria caused UTI’s and IC?
Most people will test negative for ecoli infections that they test for with standard UTI tests, but there are sometimes other bacteria that people with IC will test positive for when the urine is cultured in what is called a broth culture.
I just got diagnosed with ic and I need my caffeine what can I have to replace it help
You can try to take adrenal supplements to support your energy like rhodiola or ashwaganda. They won’t give the same kick as caffeine though.
Hi, I want to know… Is ferrous gluconate dangerous for people with I.C. ? Please tell me, I need to know!
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I am not sure Brittany. I have not heard that it is dangerous for people with IC.
Hey, I had two flare ups last year. One at Christmas time after eating badly (chocolate, coffee, wine, Turkey, and plenty of extra foods). The next flare up was four months later after eating a little more aggressively as well. I was trying to cut the carbs out and eat low sugar low carbs as I am pre-diabetic but when we were on holidays I completely challenged my diet. I eat gluten free most of the time and I do eat eggs with flax seed as a pancake and have peanut butter on top with raspberries. This was a good low sugar diet but does any one know about having you gut or large intestine in need of carbs to feed the good bacteria or something like that? I have now switched up my diet and have had a few more grains and sometimes a bit of sweat potatoes or rice (very little) but I am struggling with wanting sugar. Now that Christmas is here, I am back eating the stupid foods and now I am afraid I am starting to have non infectious cystitis once again! Scared!
I think you may be referring to carbs that have prebiotic fibre in them that pass through the small intestine undigested and act as food for healthy flora in the colon. You can also get prebiotics in probiotic supplement. You need some carbohydrates in your diet, but too many will feed the “bad” guys and can lead to issues like candida overgrowth.
Just reading all the comments. Wow! Its staggering! I’ve just been going through my second bout with ecoli. I had it 3 years ago. It took me 15 years ago to be diagnosed with IC. Its a struggle just about everyday. Watching what you put in your body is the only way. When you go out to eat it’s problematic. You can’t remember to ask everything you need to know. Pepper is the big thing now to keep it off food. No one listens
Yes it’s definitely more tricky when eating out. Stick to places you know can accommodate you.
Do spices such as ginger, oregano, cumin, cloves and cinnamon set off IC? I have been dealing with a bad sinus infection and began making a tea with apple juice, a clove, a slice of fresh ginger and a stick of cinnamon. Am I just making things worse?
I need to no what I can eat. Iam constant pain?
I was just recently diagnosed with IC , I am also suffering from fibroid tumors. I am 28 years old and no children yet. I feel the most pain when I have my period . I have to urinate every 30 min. I cant get anything done at work. As for my diet I eat like a little rabbit, I stick to gluten free and vegetables that are IC Friendly. I am also thinking about creating a cook book with all of the cools food I like. Giving up Spicy is my biggest challenge. I just hope I get better so I can eat ethnic foods again. Keep the faith.
Love, Kristen Hughes
It is so interesting and encouraging to read the comments of other IC sufferers. I have had UTI, and (apparently) IC symptoms since about my ’30’s. Until recently I’ve been on 2 very heavy-hitter meds off and on since that time. I continuously fought the side effects and never felt well while being on them. The last few years I’ve been placed on a suppressant dose after each outbreak – meaning taking medication every day in order to keep UTI Infection from re-occurring.
In desperation I decided I could no longer tolerate taking the meds which had, over time, so badly reduced my quality of life. I used the Internet, without much hope, and found all the information on IC!! I am now consulting and following IC food lists and finally getting some relief. I have shared this information with my doctor and she is very supportive. So many people are probably taking dangerous medicines for UTI infection symptoms when they really need treatment for IC. I suspect many conscientious physicians know little or nothing about Interstitial Cystitis. Thank you all those spreading information about IC.
I was diagnosed with IC years ago and it seemed to start after I gave birth to my daughter at 23 years old. I am now 37. I found, by chance, that taking daily the Ultimate Woman multivitamins and Ultimate 10 probiotic from Vitamin Shoppe has helped tremendously. Before taking these, I had sleepless nights of running to the bathroom constantly. I still have to urinate frequently, more than the average person, but I don’t tend to wake up at night having to go. Also, I can eat most foods but have to be cautious not to overdue it on spicy foods, sugary foods, or coffee/tea drinks. I quit drinking soda years ago, so that isn’t an issue anymore. I don’t take any meds for the IC, just the daily vitamin and probiotic. This has also helped with my recurring yeast infections & UTIs. I am in the process of have amalgam fillings removed and replaced with mercury free fillings. Many of my health issues seem to be the same issues with mercury poisening. I am also planning on doing a candida cleanse after my last amalgam fillings are removed. If the IC goes away from doing this, I will let you know.