Tag: Scurvy cure

Historically, scurvy was a devastating disease, killing more British sailors during the 18th century than enemy action. What was the old cure for scurvy was a question that perplexed doctors for centuries, with the effective solution of fresh food, particularly citrus fruit, repeatedly being discovered and then forgotten.

For centuries, sailors on long sea voyages were plagued by scurvy, a devastating disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C. Fortunately, knowing what fruit can cure scurvy is now common knowledge, with a variety of nutrient-rich options available to replenish this essential nutrient.

The oldest known deficiency disease, scurvy, afflicted countless sailors during the Age of Sail, but its simple cure lies in consuming specific fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. A severe and prolonged lack of this essential nutrient, also known as ascorbic acid, is the root cause, making it crucial to understand which fruit of this plant are rich in vitamin C they are used to cure scurvy.

Between 1600 and 1800, scurvy killed over one million sailors, more than died in all naval combat combined. To combat this devastating disease, sailors experimented with many different methods and provisions, seeking a cure for what did sailors use for scurvy.

An estimated two million sailors died from scurvy between the 16th and 18th centuries, a number far exceeding battle deaths. But how did pirates stop scurvy when at sea for months without the fresh fruit and vegetables needed to prevent this dreaded disease?