Final answer:
Ancient Chinese navigators avoided scurvy by having a diverse diet high in vitamin C, which included fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as fermented foods like kimchi. This allowed them to maintain their health during long sea voyages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ancient Chinese navigators avoided the problem of scurvy by having a diverse diet that included foods high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to prevent scurvy, so by consuming foods such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the sailors were able to maintain their health during long sea voyages. Additionally, the Chinese navigators may have also supplemented their diet with fermented foods like kimchi, which naturally produces vitamin C.
The sailors' avoidance of scurvy can be attributed to their knowledge of using food as medicine and their access to various sources of vitamin C-rich foods. Their ability to forage and utilize a wide range of plants played a crucial role in maintaining their health.
In contrast to the Chinese, European sailors during this time did not have proper knowledge of preventing scurvy and often suffered from the disease due to a lack of vitamin C in their diets.