What is Scurvy and How Can It Be Prevented?

What is Scurvy?

Scurvy is a rare condition of vitamin C deficiency. You can get scurvy if your diet for at least one month has very little or does not have vitamin C at all. This is also the time that symptoms of the disease will emerge.

Who Can Get Scurvy?

The disease occurs in people with mental disorders and elderly people who live alone. These groups of people are susceptible to scurvy because they usually do not have a healthy diet. Scurvy also happens to people with unusual eating habits. Since vitamin C can be found in most daily food that we eat such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, or broccoli, those who eat differently might unknowingly be avoiding food rich in vitamin C People who have intestinal malabsorption and those who undergo dialysis can also develop scurvy.

What are the Symptoms of Scurvy?

The early symptoms of scurvy include lethargy or tiredness and loss of energy. As the disease progresses, the patient suffering from this condition can experience loss of appetite, diarrhea, irritability, poor weight gain, fever, and rapid breathing. Also, they can experience pain and bleeding of the gums. Swelling and tenderness of the legs can also occur. Some patients can even experience the feeling of paralysis.

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks damages caused by free radicals. Premature aging and health conditions such as arthritis, cancer, and heart disease can result from the build-up of free radicals in the body. Vitamin C is a nutrient that also helps with the growth and repair of body tissues. Because of the lack of vitamin C in the body, it does not get all these benefits and can lead to developing scurvy.

How can Scurvy be Prevented?

Just having enough vitamin C in your diet can lower the risk of developing scurvy. You can prevent it from happening by including vitamin C-rich food in your diet such as the following:

1. Citrus fruits – lemons, lime, and oranges

2. Berries – strawberries

3. Acerola cherries

4. Broccoli

5. Kiwi

6. Kale

7. Guava

8. Red and green peppers

These can be easily added to your diet as fruit snacks or as ingredients in your daily meals. Having enough vitamin C in your diet can prevent scurvy and help you become healthy. Prevent scurvy by having enough daily intake of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables including Organic & Kosher Freeze Dried PURE Acerola Cherry Capsules.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases.