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Scurvy: Not Just for Pirates

Micronutrients are present in the foods we eat in varying amounts, and certain ones occur more readily in specific foods. Meat, spinach, and kidney beans are great sources of iron, which is needed for red blood cells and for protein to synthesize into muscle. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables, like bell peppers and carrots, are full of vitamin A, which is needed for proper vision. The foods we eat are either naturally full of these essential micronutrients, or, in the case of processed foods, they have been added. White breads and processed cereals are great examples of taking a nutritionally poor food, like white flour or puffed rice, and artificially adding nutrients. In many cases, the naturally occurring nutrients are easier for your body to access and therefore are better sources. Scurvy is a disease that is most commonly mentioned in reference to pirates and sailors hundreds of years ago. That is because scurvy is essentially a vitamin C deficiency, and it afflicted sailors on long voyages because they didn’t have access to vitamin C–rich foods, like citrus fruits. Scurvy is essentially a breakdown of the the processes that create collagen. It causes bleeding gums, reopening of scars, rashes, and bruising. The treatment now is vitamin C supplements and a diet rich in foods containing vitamin C, like oranges, potatoes, and broccoli. And though pirates aren’t around that much anymore, scurvy still affects between 20,000 and 50,000 Americans every year. Just eat your vegetables , is what we’re saying.

Chapter 1: Food, Energy, and Your Body

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