Bite back: Change your diet to avoid mosquito bites     

With the summer heat lasting way past its welcome — and only a few rainy days in between — SoCal’s extended summer has begun to pose a problem. As sea level and peak temperatures have been increasing around the world, ecosystems have been displaced by the environment. And, California is not exception.  According to the California Department of Public Health, the drought has left bodies of stagnant water, which introduce a surprising new problem – waves of non-native mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus. The notion of West Nile virus in the U.S., however, is not at all far-fetched, as Orange County, south of L.A., has incurred 263 of the virus since 2003, according to the Los Angeles Times.  

Though clothing and a strong insect repellant are the first and most effective line of defense against insects, there is an intrinsic component to bug bites. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes bite certain people who have just the right body chemistry.  Take, for example, that you go on a high-potassium diet. The excess potassium that your body does not need is secreted onto your skin, where mosquitoes can detect it. Mosquitoes love potassium, so they are going to bite you instead of your friends, because you are a “mosquito magnet.” The amount of potassium, or any nutrient that ends up on your skin (or if it is even secreted at all) is largely determined by genetics, but it is also controlled by what you eat and how much.  Here are a few tips to separate fact from fiction when it comes to avoiding those awful bug bites.

Facts

1.    Avoid Alcohol       

        According to a 2010 study, men who drank three cans of beer were bitten by mosquitos 30 percent more than the control group. Though the biology of the attraction is unknown, significant alcohol content in blood lures mosquitoes in. Fun fact, alcohol does not affect mosquitos like it affects us as they have an innately high alcohol tolerance.

2.  Slap on the Lemon Balm     

Lemon balm is often sold as a medicinal herb. Lemon balm can be applied to treat cold sores, or ingested to help digestive problems. The balm has “citronellal” which deters mosquitoes.

Myths

1. Vitamin B1

If you Google “insect repellent” one of the first options to pop up, is vitamin B1 tablets also known as thiamine. The Journal of American Mosquito Control Association reported, however, that there was no significant difference between participants that took vitamin B1 supplements and those who took the placebo pills.

2. Garlic

I was semi-relieved to find out garlic does not work to repel bugs when ingested. Garlic does have mild deterrent abilities. When you eat garlic, however, there are not enough of its active ingredients to be detectable by mosquitoes. It is only detectable if you rub garlic on your skin — but that’s definitely not a practical solution.

These food remedies can only do so much, so if you find yourself getting bit more than usual consult a doctor for stronger solutions.