North Carolina, Drinking Beer Attracts Mosquitoes To Bite You

Photo byPopular Science

North Carolina people If you’re a mosquito magnet, you probably know all about bug spray. But did you know that what you eat might also affect how attractive you are to mosquitoes?

Why Do Mosquitoes Love Us?

Mosquitoes are drawn to carbon dioxide, body heat, and specific chemicals on our skin and in our breath. Eva Buckner, Ph.D., from the University of Florida, explains that mosquitoes "smell" us to find food.

While male mosquitoes feed on nectar, females need blood to lay eggs. Chemicals like uric acid, lactic acid, and ammonia in sweat make some people more appealing. Some studies even suggest that people with type O blood might attract more mosquitoes.

Foods to Avoid
While research is limited, certain foods may make you more tempting to mosquitoes:

• Stinky Cheeses: Cheeses like Limburger contain butyric acid, a compound that can attract mosquitoes.
• Sweet Foods and Desserts: These can mimic floral scents that mosquitoes find appealing.
• Bananas: Some evidence suggests bananas might attract certain mosquito species, but more research is needed.
• Beer: Drinking beer has been shown to increase attractiveness to mosquitoes, possibly due to changes in skin or breath chemicals.

Foods to Help Repel Mosquitoes

Some foods might help keep mosquitoes away:

• Basil, Sage, and Rosemary: These herbs contain eucalyptol, which may repel mosquitoes.
• Garlic and Onions: These contain allicin, which has been linked to a reduced risk of malaria, though it’s unclear how much you’d need to consume.
• Grapefruit: It contains nootkatone, a compound shown to repel mosquitoes as effectively as DEET.

To Sum It Up
While proven methods like wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent are your best bet, adding foods like basil, grapefruit, and garlic to your diet could offer extra protection. It’s worth trying if mosquitoes find you irresistible.