Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet

Book excerpt: Julie Beyer, a registered dietitian and IC patient, understands the pain, frustration, and exhaustion that newly diagnosed patients often face. Beyer dedicates her work to distilling the science of IC down to a practical point of view. The book Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet answers the plea, "Just tell me what to eat!" We now know that up to 11 million people suffer from interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome (PBS). We also have validation that dietary modification can work to alleviate some of the symptoms of IC, in fact over 90% of patients say that diet affects their symptoms, and changing what they eat and drink can help! However, unlike dietary recommendations for other health conditions, the IC diet is more than just a good food/bad food list. Each patient is individual and just as each responds to different treatments, each patient will have a unique pattern of food triggers. Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet guides patients through a process to determine their personal trigger foods while maintaining nutrition.