Struvite stones are a type of kidney stone that are relatively uncommon. Because struvite stones are associated with infections, not dietary imbalances, they can be difficult to treat via diet. However, there are some changes to your diet you can make to prevent developing these types of stones. Talk to your doctor before making diet changes to treat struvite stones.
Struvite Stones
Struvite stones are a relatively rare form of kidney stone. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering through your blood and removing certain substances. If the concentrations of certain substances, such as struvite, get too high in your urine, they can precipitate and form crystals. If these crystals cluster together, they can form large masses that can get lodged in your kidneys and their ducts. Kidney stones can cause intense flank pain and urinary problems.
Struvite Stone Formation
Struvite is often released due to kidney infections. Unlike other kinds of kidney stones, such as calcium or uric acid stones, struvite stones are not caused by an imbalance of substances in your blood. As a result, there is no specific dietary cause of struvite kidney stones, so there is no diet that you can follow that will directly prevent this kind of kidney stone.
Diet For Kidney Infections
To prevent struvite kidney stones, you need to try to reduce your risk of kidney infections. One way to do this is to increase the amount of water or other fluids that you drink. This will cause you to make more urine, making it harder for bacteria to travel up your urinary tract and infect your kidneys. Cranberry juice can also help prevent urinary tract infections that can trigger the formation of struvite stones.
Vitamins and Minerals
Some believe that you can prevent kidney and other infections by strengthening your immune system with a proper diet. Vitamins C and E are important for your immune system and can be found in high levels in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables also provide antioxidants and minerals needed for your immune system. Talky o your doctor before making dietary changes. Changes in your diet should not be used as a substitute for a doctor's care to tree a kidney infection or struvite stones.
