November 2024

In my head, the word “scurvy” is always said with a pirate accent as I think of the seafarers from long ago suffering from headaches, fatigue, and wounds that wouldn’t heal. You might be surprised to learn that these symptoms of scurvy are happening to about 7-10% of the US population and the incidence seems to be on the rise.¹

Scurvy is the result of a deficiency in Vitamin C and can develop in as little as one to three months.² Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin so it does not remain stored in the body for a long period of time. Regular consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C is important for maintaining a healthy level of this nutrient to fend off swollen gums, fatigue, pain, and wound healing complications that can result from chronic low levels.²

You do not need fancy supplements or a boatload of citrus to get your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C. Yellow peppers, cantaloupe, broccoli, as well as oranges, lemons and limes, have high levels of Vitamin C. The key is to incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables into each meal during the day to get a variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet. A typical American diet often does not focus on fruits and vegetables, so you may have to rework some of your favorite recipes. Take a look at the recipes here and see where you can incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet!

Attending a conference is always an energizing experience. Attending the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference from October 27-30 was amazing. There were about 1,000 attendees in all kinds of healthcare related careers, including registered dietitians, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and health coaches, to name a few. They all came together to learn the newest evidence-based programming, policies and practices in Lifestyle Medicine to pass on to patients and clients.

The basis of Lifestyle Medicine is a focus on incorporating lifestyle changes to treat illness. There are six foundational pillars: Nutrition, Physical Activity, Restorative Sleep, Stress Reduction, Social Connection, and Minimizing Risky Substances. There are strategies for incorporating each of the pillars into the lives of all patients. Lifestyle Medicine is not about living a “perfect” life, it is about optimizing health by making incremental choices that fit into your life. 

The energy at the conference was electric. I learned how the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine are individually important for brain health and practical ways to modify the progression of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. I learned that nurse practitioners in western North Carolina are learning how plant-based foods affect college students and plan to expand the study to community members. I learned about a pay-what-you-can cafe in Fort Worth, Texas, that is discovering how food and social connection affect health.

I will take the energy and the strategies from the conference and incorporate them into the PhytoRx program. Stay tuned for ways to optimize health through phytochemicals combined with Lifestyle Medicine ideas that can mitigate symptoms, improve outcomes, and enhance vitality!

Citations

1. Reikersdorfer, K. N., et al. (2024) The Troubling Rise of Scurvy: A Review and National Analysis of Incidence, Associated Risk Factors, and Clinical Manifestations. JAAOS Global Research & Reviews.

2. Gandhi, M., et al. (2023) Scurvy: rediscovering a forgotten disease. Diseases. 

3. Neto, C.C., Vinson, J.A. (2011) Cranberry. In Benzie I.F.F., Wachtel-Galor S., (Eds.), Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2nd ed.).

4. Hedstrom, N. & Fishman, L. (2008) Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Cranberries. University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 

5. FoodData Central. (2023) Lentils, dry (Foundation, 2644283) [Data set]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. Retrieved November 1, 2024.