Mosquitoes

Like everyone, I have noticed many times that some people seem to get bitten by mosquitoes more often then others. I recently learned that this may be more than just chance or random body composition, but a result of what we eat.

While it's true that female mosquitoes need blood for proper reproduction, but a recent study by the US Department of Agriculture shows that mosquitoes need sugar even more [1]. So, it follows that mosquitoes seek out victims with higher levels of sugar in their blood, which comes from higher levels of sugar in their diets.

Anecdotally, this could explain my in-laws' situation. They've commented several times how he always gets bit, and she doesn't. Well, he likes to eat a decent quantity of sweets, whereas she tries to minimize sweets and carbs in her diet. Sally Fallon tells of how, since cutting out sugar, she can be outside without any chemical repellents and never be bothered [2].

So, if you're tired of spraying toxic mosquito repellent on your skin and breathing the fumes, try cutting back on sugar instead.

[1] http://www.insidescience.org/content/mosquitoes-need-sugar-not-blood-survive/1206

[2] Nourishing Traditions, http://www.westonaprice.org/thumbs-up-reviews/nourishing-traditions