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A scientist taking a look at mosquito-repelling strategies said consuming garlic kept mosquitoes away.
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Drinking beer, on the other hand, might draw in mosquitoes.
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Insect repellents like DEET and picaridin can dependably keep the biting bugs off your skin.
In the fight to keep mosquitoes from biting this summer season, what you consume might make a distinction.
While looking into techniques to repel mosquitoes, a postdoctoral scientist in Duke biology teacher Ke Dong’s laboratory said that garlic kept the bugs away. The scientist required mosquitoes to be drawn in to his hand for an experiment, however could not get them to come.
“His experiments were not working since he was consuming a great deal of Italian food with a great deal of garlic,” Dong told Axios. There isn’t yet any conclusive evidence that consuming garlic keeps mosquitoes off skin — in reality, a 2005 study on the subject discovered that consuming garlic made no distinction in whether mosquitoes had an interest in biting people or not.
Eating that garlic-laden pizza might or might not keep mosquitoes from biting, however you may wish to prevent cleaning it down with a beer. A couple of studies suggest beer-drinking boosts an individual’s appearance to mosquitoes.
There are a number of other elements that might explain why specific individuals are mosquito magnets, consisting of genes, skin microbiome, pregnancy, and tendency to sweat.
If you’re trying to find more guaranteed methods to prevent bites this summer season, the CDC recommends utilizing bug repellents like DEET and picaridin. Wearing clothes treated with permethrin, a mosquito-killing insecticide, likewise assists.
On days when mosquito encounters are inevitable, think about taking an oral antihistamine like Allegra or Claritin a couple of hours prior to direct exposure — they’re more effective at tamping down swelling and itching than topical items, and simply one dosage will provide you all-day relief.
Read the initial post on Insider