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Because of a lack of vitamins & minerals that come from fruits while at sea. Obviously, fruits aren't available at sea, a dried fruits lose some of their nutrition value. Scurvy is caused specifically by a lack of vitamin C.

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15y ago
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15y ago

Vitamin C deficiency. It was solved by sailors bringing limes with them on their trips, which is why sailors were called "limeys".

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14y ago

A lack of vitamin C in their diet.

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Q: Why do sailors get scurvy?
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Related questions

Which disease did sailors get if they didn't have enough fresh fruit and vegetables?

scurvy


How did sailors avoid scurvy?

Sailors ate Sauerkraut to prevent scurvy because it was high in vitamin C and a lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy


Did the Mary Rose sailors have Scurvy?

No none of the sailors on the Mary Rose had scurvy. Mary Rose sank on her maiden voyage and her crew were not at sea long enough to get it.


Why were British sailors called limies?

British sailors were issued lime juice as a remedy for scurvy.


What disease did the sailors have in the Tudor times?

scurvy, black death or food poisoning


When sailors had no fresh food to eat what disease could they get?

Scurvy


Use scurvy in a sentence?

'You scurvy dog(s)!' '...when the ship was struck with scurvy...' (Meaning the disease which comes about with a lack of fruit in the diet. Usually happened to sailors.)


Why did sailors got ill after eating cooked citrus fruit?

scurvy


Is scurvy caused by bacteria?

No. Scurvy is caused by vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency. The sailors used to get it at sea when they didn't have adequate vitamin C in their diets. The English caught onto this and their sailors brought limes which they sucked on. This solved the problem of scurvy and earned the sailors (and other people), of the then world-dominating, imperialistic country, the name "limeys".


What disease did vitamin d cure for ancient sailors?

Scurvy? No, more like hunger, and vitamin D deficiency (from lack of exposure to the sun?). Ancient sailors struggled to get sufficient vitamin C, which is what led to scurvy.


What were some of the dangers sailors and explorers faced at sea in the 15th century?

scurvy


What did British sailors eat to prevent scurvy?

British sailors ate citrus fruits like lemons and limes to prevent scurvy, as these fruits are rich in vitamin C. The vitamin C helped to combat the vitamin deficiency that caused scurvy during long sea voyages.