Final answer:
Scurvy is the disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by symptoms such as bleeding gums and slow wound healing. It was common among sailors and pirates who lacked fresh produce. The British navy introduced lime rations to prevent scurvy, leading to the nickname 'limeys' for British sailors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disease that sailors and pirates can get if they do not consume enough vitamin C is called scurvy. Scurvy can cause bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and a host of other issues due to the body's inability to produce sufficient collagen, which is crucial for the repair of tissues. Before the discovery of vitamins, sailors had limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, leading to a deficiency in vitamin C and the development of scurvy. The British navy tackled this issue by carrying limes on their ships, giving their sailors a daily ration to prevent the disease, which is where the term limeys for British sailors originated.
In 1747, James Lind conducted an experiment that proved citrus fruits could prevent and cure scurvy, leading to improvements in sailors' diets at sea. Foods that are high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli, are essential for the prevention of scurvy today.