What Juice Is Good for Scurvy?

November 18, 2025 •

3 min read

Historically, scurvy was a dreaded disease among sailors on long sea voyages, with symptoms appearing in as little as one to three months due to a lack of fresh produce. Today, knowing what juice is good for scurvy can be a simple, effective way to treat and prevent this vitamin C deficiency, which, though rare in many developed countries, still affects vulnerable populations.

Quick Summary

Identifying effective juices for scurvy treatment, this article highlights vitamin C-rich options and compares the benefits of juicing versus consuming whole fruits for managing this deficiency.

Key Points

Rich in Vitamin C: Juices from guava, oranges, and kiwis are excellent for quickly restoring vitamin C levels to treat scurvy. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}
Consider Non-Citrus Options: For those who prefer non-citrus flavors, juices from strawberries, papaya, and even tomatoes provide significant vitamin C. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}
Whole Fruit Advantages: While juice offers rapid absorption, consuming whole fruits provides essential dietary fiber, which aids digestion and moderates sugar intake.
Combine with Other Foods: Enhance your treatment by adding vitamin C-rich vegetables like sweet red peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts to your diet. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}
Consult a Professional: Always seek a healthcare provider's diagnosis and advice for scurvy treatment, as severe cases may require high-dose supplementation.

Understanding Scurvy: The Vitamin C Connection

Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe, prolonged deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The human body requires a continuous supply of this essential vitamin, as it cannot produce it on its own. Without sufficient vitamin C, the body cannot properly synthesize collagen, a crucial protein that helps build and repair connective tissues, skin, and bones. This leads to a breakdown of tissues throughout the body, causing the characteristic symptoms of scurvy.

What are the Symptoms of Scurvy?

Early symptoms often include fatigue, general weakness, irritability, and muscle or joint pain. As the condition progresses, more serious signs can develop:

Bleeding and swollen gums
Corkscrew-shaped hairs
Small red or blue spots on the skin (petechiae) and easy bruising
Poor wound healing
Anemia
Loose teeth

These symptoms can be effectively reversed with proper vitamin C intake, making dietary changes, including the right juices, a primary component of treatment.

The Best Juices to Combat Scurvy

Consuming fresh, high-vitamin C juices can rapidly help restore the body's depleted stores. While orange juice is a classic remedy, several other juice options offer high concentrations of ascorbic acid. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}

Citrus Fruit Juices

Orange Juice: A medium orange contains 70 mg of vitamin C, and three-quarters of a cup of fortified orange juice provides an impressive 93 mg.
Grapefruit Juice: With 70 mg of vitamin C per three-quarter cup, grapefruit juice is another excellent citrus option.
Lemon and Lime Juice: Adding fresh lemon or lime juice to water or other juices provides a vitamin C boost.

Other High-Vitamin C Fruit Juices

Guava Juice: Guava is exceptionally potent.
Kiwi Juice: One medium kiwifruit contains 64 mg of vitamin C.
Strawberry Juice: A half-cup of strawberries provides 49 mg of vitamin C.
Pineapple Juice: A cup of cubed pineapple provides around 79 mg of vitamin C.
Papaya Juice: A cup of papaya offers 88.3 mg of vitamin C.
Tomato Juice: A three-quarter cup serving provides 33 mg of vitamin C.

Juices vs. Whole Fruits: A Nutritional Comparison

While fresh juice offers a concentrated dose of vitamin C, whole fruits provide additional nutritional benefits.

Juicing Considerations

Juicing removes fiber and can lead to rapid sugar absorption. However, fresh-pressed juice provides a high concentration of vitamins for quick replenishment in severe deficiency cases. Raw, fresh-pressed juice is most effective as cooking or pasteurizing reduces vitamin C content.

Benefits of Whole Fruits

Whole fruits provide fiber, which aids digestion and helps regulate blood sugar. They are essential for long-term health and prevention. Both juices and whole fruits are important in treating scurvy.


Feature	Fresh-Pressed Juice	Whole Fruit
Vitamin C Concentration	High concentration per serving.	Varies by fruit; volume is larger.
Fiber Content	Minimal or none.	High.
Sugar Absorption	Rapid, can cause blood sugar spikes.	Slower, thanks to fiber content.
Nutrient Absorption	Faster absorption rate.	Gradual absorption.
Scurvy Treatment	Rapid intake for quick replenishment.	Sustained intake for ongoing health.

Beyond Juices: Incorporating High-Vitamin C Foods

Many vegetables are also excellent sources of vitamin C. Incorporating these into meals can help diversify your intake. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}

Sweet Peppers: A half-cup of raw red bell pepper contains 95 mg of vitamin C.
Broccoli: Half a cup of cooked broccoli provides 51 mg of vitamin C.
Brussels Sprouts: Cooked Brussels sprouts offer 48 mg per half-cup serving.
Kale: This leafy green provides a good dose of vitamin C.
Potatoes: Potatoes contain vitamin C and have historically helped prevent scurvy.

What to Expect from Treatment

With treatment, most symptoms begin to resolve within days. Fatigue and bleeding gums improve quickly, while wound healing may take several weeks. Vitamin C stores are replenished, leading to improved health. Severe cases may require high-dose supplements prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Conclusion: The Final Word on Juices for Scurvy

Incorporating fresh fruit and vegetable juices provides a natural, nutrient-rich solution for vitamin C deficiency. Juices from guava, orange, kiwi, and red bell peppers are effective choices. Combining juices with a balanced diet of whole fruits and vegetables helps treat scurvy and promotes long-term well-being. For expert information, refer to resources like the National Institutes of Health. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of scurvy. {Link: Medscape https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-overview}

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people with scurvy report feeling better within 24 to 72 hours of beginning a regimen of vitamin C supplementation, including high-dose juice intake. Symptoms like fatigue and lethargy are often the first to improve.

No, while orange juice is effective and well-known, many other juices are equally or more potent. Juices from guava, kiwi, strawberries, and papaya all contain high levels of vitamin C and are excellent for treating scurvy.

Scurvy is caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, regardless of the source. If you consistently drink enough vitamin C-rich juice, you can prevent scurvy. However, consuming only juice can lead to deficiencies in other nutrients and a lack of dietary fiber, so a balanced diet is always recommended.

Fresh-pressed juice contains the highest amount of raw vitamin C, as the vitamin is sensitive to heat and oxygen. Store-bought, pasteurized juices may have a lower vitamin C content and often contain added sugars, making fresh options superior for therapeutic purposes.

Yes, absolutely. Many vegetables are loaded with vitamin C. Sweet red peppers, kale, and broccoli are all great options to add to a juice blend. Just be aware that cooking can reduce the vitamin C content.

For mild cases, diet and juice are often sufficient. For severe deficiency, a healthcare provider might recommend high-dose oral or intravenous supplements to more rapidly restore vitamin C levels. The best approach depends on the severity of the condition and a doctor's recommendation.

The amount depends on the vitamin C content of the juice. During treatment, a healthcare provider may recommend consuming enough vitamin C to replenish the body's stores. Always follow professional medical advice, but incorporating one or two servings of a high-vitamin C juice daily can be beneficial.