Scientists warn scurvy is making a comeback. What you should know.

This week, a leading medical journal issued a warning about the re-emergence of an ancient disease: scurvy. The disease is commonly associated with sailors in the 16th and 17th centuries, but was recently diagnosed in a middle-aged man in Australia. Dr. Mark Loafman, assistant chair of Family and Community Medicine at Cook County Health, explains what scurvy is and what the symptoms are. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[EndPoliceBrutailty]

I'm thankful this is one disease that's 100% preventable.

[lettucetacoboutit]

Eat your fruits and veggies!!!!
You are what you eat

[rachael]

I think a lot of neurodivergent and autistic people may be at risk as well, they tend to stick to their "safe" foods which are any foods that don't send them into sensory overwhelm (ARFID), which are usually foods heavy in carbs, starches, and sugars (especially processed, instant, and fast foods because it's reliably the exact same every time they eat it).

[christianp.]

Australian man only eats donuts and steaks then develops the first documented case of scurvy in 300 years.

[AKrn]

This is the reason British sailors are called "Limeys".

[roxyiconoclast]

Somehow they managed not to list symptoms or treatment for scurvy. “Children with scurvy can take a supplement of up to 300 milligrams (mg) daily. Adults can take between 500 mg and 1000 mg., ” according to the Cleveland Clinic. As for symptoms, “Scurvy symptoms may start to develop after a few months of not getting enough vitamin C in your diet. The first symptoms may include general weakness, fatigue, irritability and joint pain.” About 7% of Americans are low in vitamin C.

[orbsandshadows]

I buy grapes and a couple different types of berries every week. I pack a small amount of each to take to work daily for snacking.
It’s worth the extra money. There are so many benefits to doing this daily. I find that I’m completely hydrated as well until after lunch.

[beverlyweber]

might be an indication of how nutrient deficient our food supply is.

[jenmck]

I thought for sure they were going to say it was because of the carnivore or keto diets.

[maleahlock]

It's insane because we aussies have a nationwide excess of citrus. But most of it is exported for low prices and local sales are sold at a premium.

[RoseNZieg]

where I live, people almost never eat from their citrus trees. they are mostly ornamental.

[Heightsomethinghuman]

1 med potato with skin has 45% of the daily value of vitamin C…. Thats baked, not French fries. Lots of veggies and fruits contain a good amount of vitamin C as well.

[hollyyetman]

That’s because no one can afford to eat properly.

[savage..]

My aunt in Oklahoma caught it a few years back. Her doctor prescribed her a better diet and the produce section!

[Melissa]

When I was in high school in the early 2000's, I actually had a teacher who'd had scurvy years before. It was because she was on some kind of weird diet where she couldn't eat any fruits, for some reason. I think she just got really used to not eating fruit and forgot that she needed vitamin C. By the time I knew her, it was hard for me to imagine that she would've ever done something like that because she was fairly skinny. But I guess she had actually been overweight at some point. I don't know what she ultimately ended up doing, if it was gastric bypass or what, but I think she must have lost a ton of weight.

[thisorthat]

Some doctors have been suggesting that heart disease is actually a form of scurvy. The damage looks very similar. Who is going to fund the research when drugs and surgery can be prescribed?

[squirrelcovers]

Buy a bottle of lemon juice and make a lemonade once a week. Problem solved.

[SongMom]

Scurvy? Didn’t they stop that with Vitamin C?

[tocandycane]

one of my classmates in college got scurvy, i have no idea how she got it frankly, she had a meal plan and access to fruits.

[philoctetes_wordsworth]

Scurvy, rickets, tuberculosis, polio…all the greats are making a comeback.