Category: Inuit culture

Before the 20th century, millions of sailors died from scurvy on long sea voyages, yet native Arctic populations, now known as Inuit, thrived on a diet almost devoid of traditional plant-based foods. This astonishing fact raises the question: why didn't the Eskimos get scurvy?.

Historically, the traditional Inuit diet consisted almost entirely of animal source foods, providing the necessary nutrients for survival in the harsh Arctic climate. This largely carnivorous approach is a testament to ingenious cultural adaptation, revealing what do the Inuit eat as a carnivore to maintain robust health without widespread agriculture.

While the traditional Inuit diet was overwhelmingly carnivorous, featuring marine and land mammals, archaeological evidence and oral histories confirm that they consumed a small but crucial variety of plant foods, especially during the summer season.