The sun is out and so are the bugs, especially if you live in a tropical or humid area. The inevitable mosquito bite is imminent because they buzz around on the hunt for your blood. They bite you when you least expect it, and several minutes later you are itching like crazy. Mosquitos suck, literally! Rather than ending up itchy and annoyed, we have some advice to naturally keep mosquitos away throughout the summer.
When it’s time to repel bugs, most people go to the store, buy over-the-counter sprays, and douse themselves in them. Well, that’s all fine and good if you want to poison your skin with toxic chemicals, while also clogging your pores. The skin absorbs toxins, which can ultimately get into your system and lead to a variety of health conditions. This is why it’s integral to always go the natural route.
Mosquitos can be attracted or repelled with scent. For example, acid production on the skin or cholesterol concentration on the skin can attract mosquitos. Pregnant woman or people who are obese can produce carbon dioxide on the skin, which also attracts mosquitos. Since mosquitos can carry fatal diseases (yellow fever, malaria, zika, dengue, Jamestown Canyon, or West Nile to name a few), it is best to resort to vitamin B1 to repel them.
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is a great natural mosquito repellant. It is best to get this through natural food sources, in which it is abundant. B1 supplements can contain other chemicals that won’t give you the benefits of natural B1 sources. By consuming foods rich in vitamin B1, your body gives off a yeasty smell that only mosquitos can detect; and they don’t like it at all.
The Best Vitamin B1 Foods To Eat Include:
- Asparagus
- Sunflower Seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Brussels Sprouts
- Kale
- Romaine Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Spinach
- Black Beans
- Barley
- Lentils
- Lima Beans
- Beet Greens
- Eggplant
- Green Beans
- Broccoli
- Pineapple
- Oranges
- Onions
- Collard Greens
- Summer Squash
- Mustard Greens
- Parsley
- Cucumber
If you want to help yourself even more, you can make an all-natural DIY bug spray. Use a mortar and pestle to mash a handful of fresh parsley. Add the mashed leaves to an airtight container with four ounces of raw apple cider vinegar and store overnight. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle in the morning and use it as you please. Keep it fresh in the fridge. If you want to make it smell better, add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the spray bottle.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
