When one cup of coffee, tea or cranberry juice can trigger days of pain and/or bladder discomfort, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder and other urology patients often develop an unhealthy fear of food. A new iPhone and iPad application, (ICN Food List) seeks to change that by giving patients an easy to use food list and database that they can use while shopping and eating out at restaurants.
"It comes as no surprise to most interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients that some foods can exacerbate their symptoms. Several studies have revealed that 90% of patients report sensitivity to a variety of foods, particularly coffees, teas, citrus fruits, carbonated beverages, hot spicy foods and alcohols" offered Jill Osborne MA, President of the Interstitial Cystitis Network. She continued "Typically, foods high in caffeine and acid, such as coffees, green teas, regular teas and soda, are the worst offenders but there are many other foods that can trigger bladder discomfort."
The application contains an easy to use food database developed from published research studies and food lists created by support groups. The more than 250 foods in the list are divided into three general categories: bladder friendly foods, foods worth trying cautiously and foods to avoid. Foods that patients generally find soothing during IC "flares" are highlighted. It is also the first list to cover wine, beer and spirits, listing the results of a study conducted by the IC Network in 2009. Lower acid wines and pale ale beers were more bladder friendly. Surprisingly, some patients even tolerated mixed drinks provided that they were used with IC friendly mixers.
"This app is also a powerful educational tool that can be used by clinicians, nursing staff and registered dietitians," Ms. Osborne continued, "It's designed to help anyone struggling with urinary tract food sensitivity including IC/BPS, overactive bladder, hypersensitive bladder syndrome, prostatitis, chemotherapy induced cystitis, radiation cystitis, ketamine cystitis, trigonitis and urethritis."
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