04
Sep

Limeys, Nobel Genius and the Vitamin That Changed the World

Did you know there was a time when sailors would lose their teeth, bruise spontaneously, and even die—just because they didn’t have access to fresh fruits?

It’s wild, but true.

In the 1700s, long sea voyages left British sailors vulnerable to a mysterious, painful condition known as scurvy. Their salvation? A daily dose of citrus.

A British naval surgeon named James Lind made a life-saving discovery. By adding lemons and limes to the sailors’ diet, the illness disappeared. It was such a breakthrough that British sailors became forever known as “Limeys.”

That moment in history sparked a chain reaction—one that eventually led to two Nobel Prizes, the creation of a new scientific field, and groundbreaking research that still impacts how we care for our bodies today.

And at the heart of it all is Vitamin C.

The Next Big Discovery
In the 1930s, Hungarian scientist Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated the nutrient that cured scurvy. He called it hexuronic acid, later renamed ascorbic acid (from “a-scorbutus”—meaning “no scurvy”).

His discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937, forever changing how we understand human health.

And still… this vitamin’s story wasn’t over yet.

Fast-forward to the Lab…
Enter Dr. Linus Pauling, a name you might not recognize right away—but should. He’s the only person in history to win two unshared Nobel Prizes—one in Chemistry, and one for Peace.

Later in life, Dr. Pauling shifted his attention to something much closer to home: How can nutrients, especially Vitamin C, help us live longer and feel better?

He became the father of a new field called Orthomolecular Medicine, and his passion for Vitamin C changed lives—including that of one of his students and assistants…

A Student Carries the Torch
Among those deeply inspired by Dr. Pauling was a young nutrition student—Dr. John Westerdahl. He later worked at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine as Dr. Pauling’s Assistant Nutritionist, helping to carry forward his mentor’s groundbreaking research.

And now, Dr. Westerdahl is sharing those lessons and stories—directly from his time with Dr. Pauling—in a special webcast you won’t want to miss.

But why does this matter to you?
Because the discoveries made in history’s ships and Nobel labs are the same ones that shape your health today.

If you feel run down even after a full night’s sleep…

If you catch every cold that makes the rounds…

Or if you want to protect your skin, your heart, and your energy as you age..

Vitamin C could be the missing piece you’ve overlooked.

You’re Invited to a One-of-a-Kind Vitality for Life Show

Join Dr. John Westerdahl in this special Vitality For Life episode—From the Lab of a Legend: The Vitamin C Story—happening on Wednesday, September 17th at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.