What is scurvy?
When you think of scurvy, you may imagine pirates sailing across the open sea. Sailors were prone to scurvy because they were at sea for months without vitamin C-rich fresh fruits and vegetables. But scurvy can affect civilians, too.
Scurvy is a severe vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is essential to maintaining connective tissue health. Without it, everything from your skin to your blood vessels can become weaker.
Without treatment, scurvy can cause skin and joint problems, loss of teeth, and heart and lung issues. Luckily, it has become a rare disorder, thanks to a modern diet with plenty of access to food with vitamin C.