If you’re someone who seems to attract mosquitoes like a magnet, you’re probably already a pro at using bug spray. But did you know that what you eat might also play a role in how tempting you are to these bloodthirsty critters?

Here’s what the latest research and experts have to say.

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Why Do Mosquitoes Love Us?

There are several reasons you might be especially appealing to mosquitoes. “Mosquitoes are drawn to the carbon dioxide we exhale, our body heat, and specific chemicals on our skin and in our sweat and breath,” explains Eva Buckner, Ph.D., an assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.

Read More: Virginia, Keep The Mosquitos Away With These Shirt Colors

Mosquitoes "smell" us to find food. While male mosquitoes stick to nectar, female mosquitoes need blood to lay their eggs. “Mosquitoes have sensory hairs on their antennae and mouthparts. When these hairs detect certain odors, they send a chemical signal to the mosquito’s brain,” Buckner says.

Sweet scents, body odor, and certain chemicals can attract mosquitoes. Higher levels of uric acid, lactic acid, and ammonia in your sweat can make you even more appealing. Interestingly, some studies suggest that people with type O blood might be more attractive to mosquitoes than those with other blood types.

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Foods to Avoid

While the research on the connection between diet and mosquito attraction isn’t extensive, there are some foods and drinks that might make you more appealing to mosquitoes:

  1. Stinky Cheeses: Mosquitoes are attracted to carboxylic acids produced by bacteria on our skin. Butyric acid, found in stinky cheeses like Limburger, is one such compound.
Young Ethiopian with cheese
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2. Sweet Foods and Desserts: Mosquitoes are drawn to floral scents, which can be similar to the scents of certain nectar-producing plants they feed on. Eating or drinking something with a sweet, floral scent could attract mosquitoes to you.

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3. Bananas: Limited evidence suggests that bananas might make you more attractive to mosquitoes. A study found that people who ate bananas were more attractive to certain species of mosquitoes than those who ate grapes, but more research is needed.

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4. Beer: Studies have shown that drinking beer can increase your attractiveness to mosquitoes, although the exact reason why remains unclear. Researchers believe it might change the chemicals released in your breath or on your skin.

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Foods to Help Repel Mosquitoes

Just as some foods can attract mosquitoes, others might help repel them.

1. Sweet Basil, Sage, and Rosemary: One study found that mosquitoes were less attracted to people with high concentrations of eucalyptol on their skin, an aromatic compound found in these herbs. Researchers believe the concentration of eucalyptol was linked to the person’s diet.

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2. Garlic and Onions: These foods contain allicin, a compound associated with a reduced risk of contracting malaria, which is transmitted through mosquito bites. However, it’s not clear how much garlic and onions you’d need to consume for this effect.

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3. Grapefruit: Grapefruit contains nootkatone, a compound that has been shown to repel mosquitoes as effectively as DEET or picaridin. While the study looked at nootkatone applied to the skin, consuming grapefruit might also help.

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To Sum It Up

To effectively keep mosquitoes away, stick to proven methods like wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing and using EPA-registered insect repellents. However, adding foods like basil, grapefruit, and garlic to your diet might give you an extra layer of protection. It’s worth a try, especially if you’re a mosquito magnet.

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