In earlier times, it was a dreaded disease of pirates or those taking long voyages. Yet, with knowledge came health. What am I talking about? Scurvy! Why is this even in the news? Believe it or not, scurvy is making a comeback!
Economics
One may attribute this disease to third-world countries. That is not the case. Because of unpredictable economic conditions, people buy cheap, high-carbohydrate foods that are nutritionally poor. This food will satisfy hunger for a time. But it does not meet their dietary needs [1]. Hoping for better economic times, one quiets the conscience. But the better times have not come. Since the pandemic, many households are on the brink of poverty. While one going to the grocery store can easily see that a package of cookies costs far less than a bag of clementines, if you are trying to make ends meet, the cookies go in the cart.
What Is Scurvy?
Scurvy is a disease caused by low vitamin C levels. Symptoms include aching, weariness, bleeding gums and teeth, thinning hair, and slow wound healing.
How Do I Get It?
If one doesn’t have enough vitamin C in his diet, he develops scurvy. We are not talking a day or two. Not consuming vitamin C for at least 2 to 3 months can harm you. You can’t store vitamin C in your body for long, so you need to take it in regularly.
Foods To Fight It
Scurvy is a simple disease to avoid. No medications are necessary for prevention. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Over time, not eating fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to scurvy.
Fruits that are high in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, and kiwi fruit. Vegetables high in vitamin C are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes. A benefit of vitamin C is its availability in fresh foods year-long. While strawberries and tomatoes are ripe in the summer, oranges and Brussels sprouts are available in cooler weather.
Overcooking vegetables will destroy vitamin C. So fresh, even raw produce is the best source.
Scurvy should not be overlooked. A few diet changes can ward off this disease.
Notes:
- ^ {A Deadly 18th Century Disease Is Making a Comeback in Some of The World’s Richest Countries} (go back ↩)
