Category: Arctic life

European explorers famously suffered from scurvy on their Arctic expeditions, yet Inuit populations, living for centuries on a diet of primarily meat, did not. This seeming paradox is explained by the unique nutritional content of their traditional foods and methods of preparation, which provide ample vitamin C, addressing the question of how do Inuits not get scurvy.

Historically, the traditional Inuit diet was highly adapted to the Arctic climate, consisting primarily of hunted and gathered animal source foods due to the limited availability of plant life. This means that what does an Inuit diet consist of is a direct reflection of a resourceful and resilient relationship with a challenging environment.

The traditional Inuit diet, often called "country food," is a testament to human adaptability, relying almost exclusively on local resources to provide all necessary nutrients. This primarily carnivorous diet is rich in fat and protein, a crucial adaptation for surviving in the harsh Arctic environment where agricultural cultivation is impossible.