Greetings!
Happy Fall everyone! I for one am happy to see that red and brown have replaced the colors of choice in fashion rather than the gray that seemed to dominate summer. I like to feel good when I dress; and, I don't know about you, but gray never did anything to lift my spirits!
Send me an email and tell me what you are doing this fall. Are you taking your sweaters and boots out of storage? Do you swap out your summer annuals for fall pansies and mums? Do you clean out your closets? Are you already planning holiday parties? What makes you feel like you are ready for fall?
Your companion on the journey,
Julie Beyer, MA, RD :-)
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More on Gluten-Free Diets and IC
|  Oh my gosh, today there was a big discussion on one of my dietitian lists about gluten-free diets being used for IC. Although most people appreciated my level head when it came to the topic, it still frustrates me when people are so quick to promote something that has NO substantial research behind it. One dietitian said erroneously that 80% of IC patients have gluten sensitivity. When challenged, she couldn't substantiate that number. Well, of course she couldn't. It IS NOT TRUE! I wrote about this in April of this year (Gluten-Free Diet for Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome), and still refer to it often when answering posts at the Interstitial Cystitis Network and on my facebook pages, Trust me, I understand the desperation that makes people believe that if they change their diet dramatically, they could cure their IC symptoms. But in my 14 years of dealing with thousands of IC patients, I just have not seen it! I wanted to update the topic because I had to do more research to have this "discussion" with the dietitians. To be honest, nothing has changed. The ONLY statistics I could find are from an online poll done by the ICA:
"More than 1,000 interstitial cystitis (IC) patients completed an Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) quick poll on gluten sensitivity and celiac disease: - 12% of IC patients reported being diagnosed with celiac disease, a gluten-intolerance condition.
- 15% of IC patients stated that foods with gluten bothered their IC symptoms."
Keep in mind, that this was a self-reported survey (far from scientific) and these people may or may not have already been influenced by the flood of fad diet information out there about gluten in our food supply. And, although this page on the ICA states that there is research pending, I am having a hard time putting any value in a study that only includes 39 people when I have dealt with thousands of patients over the past 14 years.
That being said, I know we have a LONG way to go with IC and diet research. This is made difficult because IC is likely not one disease, but several that we have lumped into one category. Treatment, including dietary treatment, is extremely individual.
My current recommendation with patients who come to me wanting to try a gluten-free diet is to have them try it for two weeks. If they do not have some relief during that time, we go back to eating foods that have gluten in them. It is never a good idea to eliminate entire food groups from your diet unless it is truly a medical necessity. I believe in most patients' abilities to trust their own intuition as far as diet is concerned. In reality, bread and other gluten containing products are nearly always reported by patients to be some of the least bothersome foods for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder patients. Instead, research has shown the most bothersome foods for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder patients to be: - Caffeinated beverages
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Alcoholic beverages
- Carbonated beverages
- Tomatoes
- Foods containing hot peppers
- Certain artificial sweeteners
- Pineapple/pineapple juice
- Cranberry juice
- Horseradish
- Vinegar
- Pickled herring
For those of you more interested in this topic, I have a book written for dietitians that explores the research in more depth than my books for patients. If you don't have it already, you might be interested in Interstitial Cystitis: A Guide for Nutrition Educators:
If you are a nurse, dietitian, or physical therapist who helps interstitial cystitis/painful bladder patients, you can even get continuing education credits using this book from Helm Publising! I KNOW we have a long way to go with reseasrch on the IC Diet, but we are not going to get anywhere by continuing to disseminate poorly researchered theories. Help pass the work. Send this link to your IC friends and post it in your groups. And PLEASE don't eliminate entire food groups from your diet unless you are really helped by it. An IC Diet is not "one-size-fits-all," but rather an individualized diet that can be determined by a deliberate process of trial and error.
If you need help determining your personal trigger foods, please don't hesitate to contact me at NutraConsults@aol.com for a personal consultation. A one hour phone consultation CAN make a difference in your life!
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New Posts on IC Diet & Lifestyle Blog
Have you visited my blog recently? If you do, be sure to "follow" so that you don't miss any new posts!
Recent blog posts include:
Other popular posts that I often refer patients to include:
Would you like to be a guest blogger for the IC Diet and Lifestyle Blog? Let me know! I would be glad to feature you! Just email me at NutraConsults@aol.com and we can talk about it! |
| Come Join the Conversation! | 
WOW! Our IC Diet facebook group has almost 1300 members! This is where I connect with my patients on a daily basis! Share your stories, inspiration quotes, connect with others, and post your recipes! You may even meet some now IC friends! Recent topics include
- Farmers' markets
- Pears are in at Costco!
- AUA Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines
- IC Diet Twitter Chat
Joining only takes a few seconds. Simply sign into your facebook account, navigate to Confident Choices facebook Group and click "Like" near the top of the page! |
Personal Phone Consultations with Julie
|  Julie Beyer is a registered dietitian, interstitial cystitis patient, and pioneer in the field of nutrition, lifestyle, and interstitial cystitis. She provides both phone and Skype or Facetime consultations to patients around the world.
Consultation fees:
One hour consultation: $90.00
Package of three, one hour consultations paid in advance: $210.00
To schedule your initial session, please email NutraConsults@aol.com or phone 1-866-537-8766
What others are saying: My husband and I so much enjoyed our consultation phone call with you in February. You had so much help and information to pass on to us. We are grateful!!! (Dot)
I just wanted to thank you so much!! Your phone call changed my life and I cannot thank you enough! (Judy)
Hi Julie! I wanted to update you after our call last month. My doctor prescribed the medication we talked about, and I am sleeping much better. Also, I know I gave you a hard time about the tea, but after giving it some thought (and a few painful nights) I decided to change to chamomile. So far, so good. (Paula)
I can't tell you how much I appreciate time you took to talk to me on Thursday. You are the first person who took the time to explain IC in a way I could understand. I ordered your books today, and look forward to trying some new recipes now that I have a new attitude! Bless you for all you are doing. (Karen)
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A Different Book on IC and Diet
|  Are you a veteran IC patient looking for books with more research? Even if you aren't a nutrition professional, you might be interested in Interstitial Cystitis: A Guide for Nutrition Educators. Originally written as a continuing education book for nurses and registered dietitian, this book provides much more detail on the research involved on interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and the IC Diet itself than the other Confident Choices books.
From Amazon.com
Price: $19.99
Eight Credits for Continuing Education from:
Helm Publishing
www.helmpublishing.com
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Confident Choices Workbook
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This easy to use workbook can help you determine your personal food triggers and get you on your way to feeling better! BONUS sections include information on nutrition supplements, food intake and voiding diaries, and planning sheets.Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet also includes information on exercise, stress management, emotional issues,while illustrating success stories with patient stories. Customizing the Interstitial Cystitis Diet was written by a registered dietitian who knows what it is like to live with interstitial cystitis. $28.95
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Confident Choices Cookbook
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Julie Beyer, drawing from personal experience with interstitial cystitis, her professional expertise as a registered dietitian, and activism in the interstitial cystitis community has published Confident Choices: A Cookbook for Interstitial Cystitis and Overactive Bladder containing over 200 recipes, food preparation hints, and personal reflections that only a dietitian with interstitial cystitis can offer.
From Amazon.com
Price: $28.95
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Let's Connect!
    
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Julie Beyer, MA, RD is a dietitian and interstitial cystitis patient who is committed to improve the lives of IC patients and promoting the value of dietary modification when used within a comprehensive treatment plan for interstitial cystitis. Yes, I am a one-woman show. The newsletter alone costs over $400 a year to maintain. The website ( www.ic-diet.com) another $400. Please take a moment to contribute to the mission of Confident Choices by donating to: All donations appreciated. You decide what this is worth to you. |
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