For thousands of years humans knew that certain foods could treat certain ailments.

However, why or how the foods did this was totally unknown.

It wasn't until the 20th century that researchers discovered exactly what chemicals were in food that prevented and cured many diseases.

Today that knowledge has led to an entire industry dedicated to providing and supplementing nutrients.

Learn more about vitamins, what they are, how they were discovered,

and what happens if you lack them in your diet

on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. daily. Book your ticket to happiness with Sun Express Airlines. Oh, well, A while back I did an episode where I told the story of how the 18th century

Scottish doctor James Lind found that citrus fruits could prevent and cure scurvy.

He, like most sailors, knew what scurvy did,

but he had no clue why it happened,

nor did he really understand why citrus fruits like

limes and lemon seemed to cure it. All he knew was that it worked.

By the early 20th century, three macronutrients had been identified, fats, proteins, and

carbohydrates. However, whatever else was in food that might have provided health benefits was still unknown.

For example, the magical property in limes that prevented scurvy was still a mystery.

Another naval doctor, Detaki Conahiro of the... Scurvy was still a mystery.

Another naval doctor,

Detaki Conaharo of the Japanese Imperial Navy,

did a study of naval crew members and the disease

Berry Berry in 1884.

Berry can result in the deterioration of the nervous system, numbness in the extremities,

and in extreme cases death.

...