Chapter 660: Increasing Income and Reducing Expenditure
scurvy!
It can be said that it is very famous.
This is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, so it is also called vitamin C deficiency. However, vitamin C deficiency can not only cause scurvy, but is also related to inflammation, arteriosclerosis, tumors and other diseases.
It has been a serious threat to human health in history.
Over the past few hundred years, it has been widely prevalent among sailors, explorers and the military, especially among sailors on long voyages, so it is known as the "sailor's fear" and the "evil spirit of the sea."
The most clear description of scurvy in ancient texts is in the records of the Crusades in the Middle Ages.
Some scholars traced it back to the time of Hippocrates BC, while others claimed that traces of scurvy were also found on the remains of primitive humans.
At the end of the 15th century, scurvy was also the reason why many sailors were bedridden for a long time. It was not until 1753 that Scottish naval doctor James Lind discovered that the disease was related to diet. He also found that drinking orange juice and lemon juice could treat and prevent scurvy. Only then did the prevention and treatment of scurvy become available.
This disease is actually very easy to prevent. All you need to do is eat vegetables and fruits regularly. You don’t even need to supplement them deliberately.
But if it is not treated, it can lead to iron deficiency, ranging from anemia to skin bleeding, loose and falling teeth, personality changes, and ultimately death.
"So, scurvy is a disease that only sailors who eat only meat and no vegetables will get. But there is another phenomenon that has been puzzling scientists in modern times."
"Then why do the Inuit, who also only eat meat and no vegetables, not have scurvy?"
Talented in a different place?
Or is there another way?
The audience's curiosity was aroused, and many netizens couldn't help but sit up straight and listen to Bifang's explanation.
Bifang cut open another salmon, took out its belly, stuffed it into his mouth with satisfaction, tasted it happily, swallowed it, and finally sat cross-legged on the ground and began to explain the reason leisurely.
"As I said just now, low temperatures can also kill parasites, and it only takes minus 20 degrees. In fact, this is just the normal temperature in the Arctic. Although the temperature in the water is much higher, it is not liked by parasites. But this is of course not absolute. Low temperature is far less efficient and accurate than high temperature in killing insects. It just greatly reduces the chance of being infected."
"Moreover, most parasites are harmless to the human body. In addition, the Arctic is almost pollution-free. With these three factors combined, even freshwater fish can be eaten raw. There is no need to be terrified."
"As for why it is necessary, it is actually just eating raw meat, which can also supplement vitamin C, eh!"
Bifang choked and burped. He hadn't eaten meat for a long time and ate too much at once.
Patting his chest and taking a sip of water, Bifang said slowly, "Between 1906 and 1918, Harvard University anthropologist and explorer Vihjalmur Stefansson, um, that's Vihjalmur."
To make it easier for everyone to remember, Bifang translated Icelandic into English .
“Wehjalmur visited Canada’s northern region three times, where he spent the winter with the local Inuit, living and eating together.
"Due to geographical restrictions, the Inuit can only eat meat and animal fat most of the time, such as birds, reindeer, seals, walruses, whales, etc. These foods provide them with all the nutrition for at least 10 months a year. In the summer, they may eat some plant foods, such as berries, roots, etc."
"However, like the Inuit, the Vihjalmur did not develop scurvy as a result of a diet so devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables."
"When he made his findings public, he was strongly attacked by some skeptics."
[Hiss, I would doubt it too]
[It doesn’t seem to be a genetic problem]
[Can raw meat also supplement vitamin C? 】
Bifang drank some warm water, chewed a piece of raw meat, and continued.
"In order to verify and study the principle behind it, in 1928, Vihjalmur and his colleagues were admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York. Under the strict control of the hospital and the supervision team, they started a 'diet experiment', that is, eating meat and animal fat all year round like the Inuit, and they persisted in this for one year."
"Before the experiment began, many experts predicted that Vihjalmur would eventually develop scurvy due to a lack of vitamin C. The result... was naturally shocking."
After the experiment, Vihjalmur was still healthy and his physical condition improved to varying degrees, such as sharper thinking and more stable blood pressure, not to mention scurvy, and he had no symptoms of vitamin deficiency. "
Lack of vitamin C can indeed cause scurvy.
Scurvy was first discovered by the French explorer Jacob of Brittany in 1536, when it was severely afflicting people who were exploring the St. Lawrence River.
Jacob also gave a detailed description of scurvy, and even reading it now, one can still vaguely feel some of the horror.
"Some lost all their strength and could not stand up... Others also found purple scars on their skin, and then they began to appear on their ankles, knees, thighs, shoulders, etc. Their mouths smelled bad, their gums gradually rotted, and the flesh on their bodies began to fall off, even the roots of their teeth were no exception, almost all of them fell off."
There is no doubt that humans cannot live without vitamin C, otherwise the consequences will be serious. Moreover, the human body cannot synthesize vitamin C by itself. Unlike cats and dogs, these animals can synthesize vitamin C by themselves.
"About 60 million years ago, the ancestors of humans, the great apes, lost an enzyme needed to synthesize vitamin C from glucose. Its name is very long, called gulonolactone oxidase, and eventually lost the ability to make vitamin C."
"Darwin's theory of evolution is undoubtedly correct, but that doesn't mean there are no problems. We can even say that the problems are huge."
"Humanity's current state is not necessarily the most adaptable to the environment. A large part of it is due to luck, so some non-fatal flaws also exist. Of course, this is complicated to explain in detail , so I will just briefly mention it and not elaborate."
Bifang shook the kettle, returned to the point, and stated the reason directly.
"The final result is actually very simple. A high-sugar diet requires more vitamin C. As long as you don't eat staple foods, the body's vitamin C needs will drop significantly."
"And there is actually vitamin C in meat. The most important thing is that the vitamin C content in raw meat is much higher than that in cooked meat. This is because the heating process will cause some of the vitamin C to be oxidized and lost."
"It is the custom of the Inuit to eat raw meat. I mentioned this when I was in Mohe. Because of this, they were given a slightly contemptuous name, called Eskimos."
"Increase income and reduce expenditure, and scurvy will stay away from me."
Bifang took a big bite of the fish and chewed it in big mouthfuls.
Finally had a full meal.
