Final answer:
To prevent or cure Pellagra, it was important to add foods rich in niacin, like brewer's yeast, almonds, and organ meats, to the diet. Enrichment and fortification of foods also became commonplace to replace or add essential vitamins and minerals.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent or cure Pellagra, a disease caused by niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency, certain foods were added to patients' diets. These foods included brewer's yeast, almonds, milk, organ meats, legumes, enriched breads and cereals, broccoli, and asparagus. These foods are rich in niacin and other essential nutrients that were often lost during food processing or were lacking in the diet, leading to deficiencies.
The understanding of the importance of vitamins arose following observations by scientists like Takaki Kanehiro and Christiaan Eijkman, who linked the effects of diet on diseases like beriberi. Moreover, Casimir Funk identified that the absence of certain micronutrients in the diet could lead to diseases like rickets, scurvy, and pellagra. To address these deficiencies, enrichment and fortification practices were introduced, ensuring that essential nutrients were replaced or added to food, particularly staple items like bread and cereals.