Care2 Healthy Living | Foods You Can Eat to Repel Mosquitoes
21
Foods You Can Eat to Repel Mosquitoes
21
tweet
3
0
email
23
By: Zoe Blarowski
May 22, 2018
About Zoe
Mosquitoes find you primarily by your scent. Although, the chemical compounds that create your personal scent are very complex, and researchers have barely scratched the surface of what makes one person smell better to mosquitoes than another.
What we do know is that mosquitoes are extremely sensitive and can smell a potential meal from over 50 meters (160 feet) away. We also know that the foods we eat can change how our bodies smell. Have you ever had a meal seasoned with pungent spices, then smelled them on your breath or skin afterwards?
Mosquitoes can also smell what you’ve been eating, and some foods are more likely than others to throw them off your scent. Try loading up on the following foods this summer and see if mosquitoes give you a miss.
1. Garlic
Research suggests that the scent of garlic is able to ward off mosquitoes. In fact, garlic is recognized as so effective that it’s included in various commercial bug and mosquito repellents. Garlic’s distinctive smell is partially due to its unique chemical compound called allicin. When you eat garlic, you’ve likely noticed the smell of allicin as it comes through the pores of your skin. Rest assured that you don’t smell bad, you’re simply protecting yourself against mosquitoes.
Be healthy. Be loving.
Get daily tips for leading a healthy and compassionate life delivered to your inbox.
Incidentally, onions have been shown to repel some insects, but not mosquitoes. This may be due to the fact onions do not contain allicin.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
The strong smell of apple cider vinegar is known to repel mosquitoes and some other bugs. You can take advantage of its repelling action by simply wiping some on your skin. But, if you consume apple cider vinegar regularly, the scent may naturally come through your pores.
It’s recommended to consume at least one tablespoon (18 milliliters) of apple cider vinegar per day to have enough in your system to ward off mosquitoes. Apple cider vinegar has many other health benefits and you can add it to salad dressings, soups or other dishes. You can also drink a tablespoon of plain vinegar each day, but first check these guidelines on how to safely drink cider vinegar.
3. Foods with Vitamin B1
Anecdotal evidence suggests that vitamin B1, also called thiamine, can help deter mosquitoes. Many people have experienced a benefit of either using vitamin B1 supplements or eating foods high in vitamin B1. Unfortunately, research has not been able to support these claims.
Based on the many personal success stories, you may want to try including foods high in thiamine in your diet and see what happens. Some of the best sources of thiamine include sunflower seeds, black beans, navy beans, soy beans, lentils, brewer’s and nutritional yeasts, macadamia nuts and wheat germ.
Related: 7 Ways to Repel Mosquitoes Without Putting Anything on Your Skin
4. Grapefruit
Nootkatone is the chemical compound that gives grapefruit its familiar fragrance. Nootkatone is also proven to be an effective repellent for mosquitoes, as well as ticks, bed bugs, head lice and various other insects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with biotechnology companies to develop a commercial bug repellent based on nootkatone. This would provide a safe and natural product to help combat disease-spreading insects like mosquitoes and ticks.
It’s not known if eating grapefruit regularly will provide enough nootkatone to repel insects from your skin. But, nootkatone and grapefruit are recognized as completely safe to eat, so it’s definitely worth a try.
5. Herbs and Spices
The essential oils from many different herbs and spices are recognized as effective mosquito repellents. These oils are typically applied to the skin. The effect of eating the source herbs and spices remains unknown as it has never been studied. Although, it’s very plausible that the pungent oils contained in the fresh herbs and spices could affect the smell of your skin. And considering that most herbs and spices also have many health benefits, you can’t go wrong adding more flavors to your food.
Some of the best herbs and spices proven to repel mosquitoes include clove, thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, catnip, peppermint, and lemongrass, which contains citronella.
Related on Care2
8 Natural Mosquito Repellants
Why You’re a Mosquito Magnet, According to Science
Women Prefer the Scent of a Man Who Eats This Diet
GREAT STORY, RIGHT?
Share it with your friends
21
tweet
3
0
email
You Might Also Like
Photo of Meghan Markle as her high school’s homecoming queen surfaces Photo of Meghan Markle as her high school’s homecoming queen surfaces theGrio
7 Habits that are Bad for Your Thyroid 7 Habits that are Bad for Your Thyroid
For Sexual Health, Does Pubic Hair Matter? For Sexual Health, Does Pubic Hair Matter?
Could Spirulina Be Linked to Alzheimer’s? Could Spirulina Be Linked to Alzheimer’s?
6 Simple Ways to Lose Belly Fat, Based on Science 6 Simple Ways to Lose Belly Fat, Based on Science
Recommended by
23 comments
Janis K
Janis K19 minutes ago
Thanks for sharing.
SEND
Fiona O
Fiona O20 minutes ago
Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing. These are the useful articles I am glad Care2 writers and Care 2 provides for us. I will share on twitter.
SEND
Elizabeth H
Elizabeth H43 minutes ago
I find garlic repels most things, me included.
SEND
Cathy B
Cathy Babout an hour ago
Thank you.
SEND
Larry McDaniel
Larry McDanielabout an hour ago
Thank you
SEND
Dennis Hall
Dennis Hall2 hours ago
Thanks
SEND
Ann B
Ann B2 hours ago
good tips
SEND
Lisa M
Lisa M3 hours ago
Noted.
SEND
Lisa M
Lisa M3 hours ago
Noted.
SEND
No W
No W4 hours ago
thank you for posting
SEND
view all 23 comments
TOP STORIES
1
This Is the Least Hygienic Way to Wear Yoga Pants and Leggings
2
New Discovery about the Diets of Great Apes Sheds Light on Ideal Human Diet
3
Stressed Out? 3 Supplements to Keep Your Cortisol Levels in Check
4
Could Spirulina Be Linked to Alzheimer's?
5
New Study Shows EPA 'Safe' Levels of Glyphosate Not Safe at All
ads keep care2 free
learn more ▸
CONNECT WITH US
Facebook 1.1 million followers
Twitter 560,000 followers
Pinterest 30,000 followers
Email Newsletter
EMAIL THE EDITORS
ads keep care2 free
learn more ▸
COMMUNITY SUCCESS!
Success! Swedish Cardiologist Freed After 5 Years in Ethiopian Prison
Dr. Fikru Maru was imprisoned in May of 2013, on trumped-up charges of corruption and, later,...
more
21
tweet
3
0
"The best way to predict the future is to create it!"
- Dennis Gabor
Start A Petition
Home
Start a Petition
Sign Petitions
Petition Successes
Care2 Causes
Healthy Living
Petition Help
Trending Petition Topics
Animal Rights
Children's Rights
Civil Rights
Corporate Accountability
Education
Environment
Health
Human Rights
International Development
LGBTQ Rights
Media, Arts, Culture
Politics
Reproductive Rights
Wildlife
Women's Rights
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.
Care2 Stands Against: bigots, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.
Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.
You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Follow
HomeAbout UsPartnershipsMedia InquiryPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceContact UsHelp
Copyright © 2018 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors.All rights reserved
site feedback
site feedback
log in / Join
Start A Petition
Sign Petition
CARE2 Home
healthy living
Food +Recipes
Health
Love + Sex
Green
News
Crafts
Ecards
Brands forGood
Nature
Pets
Spirit
Home
Life
Family
Beauty
causes & news
Success Stories
butterfly rewards
New to Care2? Start Here.
About Us
Care2 Team Blog
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment