Scurvy is simply a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C in the human body. Now in nature, in most cases, we humans have the advantage. You know, like the whole opposable thumb thing, you know. But there's one evolutionary advantage we missed out on that most animals have. The ability for our bodies to naturally create its own supply of vitamin C. We get our fix mainly from citrus fruits, oranges, strawberries, lemons. But we also find vitamin C in lots of other categories of food as well. Now after only a few weeks of depriving yourself of vitamin C, you're going to start to lose your red blood cells.