3 Foods You Can Eat To Naturally Repel Mosquitoes

Caroline Alcantar By Caroline Alcantar | 19 August 2019 1904 views
foods to repel mosquitoes

Repel Mosquitoes Naturally By Eating These 3 Common Foods


Mosquitoes can be picky when it comes to their prey—or so it seems. 

You’ve probably noticed. Maybe you get eaten alive whenever you simple step out on your back porch… while others you know could saunter through dense woods for hours without picking up a single bite.

What gives? Bite-free is what we all want to be. But how do you achieve it? 

Is there a diet trick? Can what you eat really help keep mosquitoes off your back? …and skin?

Bad news first—there’s no hard evidence that proves a specific food will work as a tried-and-true mosquito repellent.


Still, certain foods contain components that have been proven to ward off or even kill these little buggers. So why not try it out for yourself?

Consider adding these foods to your diet next time you plan an outdoor adventure. Maybe—just maybe—these simple and delicious additions will deter mosquitoes from eating you up next time you hike a trail or brave the lakeside.

But bring that backup repellent, just in case!

3 Foods To Eat To Repel Mosquitoes

1) Garlic

A well-known old wives’ tale says eating garlic can help repel mosquitoes—and cure the common cold, and ward off vampires, too. But is (any of) it true?

Not exactly. While garlic can be deadly to mosquitoes if they eat it, your consumption won’t necessarily keep them at bay.

However, if eaten raw, there’s a chance the smell on your breath will encourage them to avoid you—since that’s deadly stuff and all.


Easiest way to find out? Mince up a few cloves and toss them in with your favorite cold salad at your next family picnic. Not only will it add lovely flavor—it just might convince those bugs to bugger off. 

But be aware, garlic’s powerful! You may unintentionally repel wanted attention with your new scent.

2) Grapefruit 

This delicious and healthy summertime snack contains nootkatone, a compound recent studies show can repel and kill not only mosquitoes… but also ticks—dreaded spreaders of Lyme disease. 

Whether or not simply eating grapefruit repels these bugs hasn’t been determined. But since nootkatone has the power to ward off these two common disease-spreading insects, it’s certainly worth trying out. 

And since grapefruit is also rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, it’ll benefit your health either way.

Bring one out with you on your next morning walk, and consider rubbing the peel—rich in essential oils—on your skin after you’ve eaten the fruit for the benefit of added potency.

3) Lemongrass 

Lemongrass is one of the best sources of citronella, which has been proven to repel mosquitoes.


Like the other foods on this list, though, ingesting citronella doesn’t necessarily produce the same effects as using a citronella-based spray or balm. 

Still, enough anecdotal evidence has been floating around for years to consider this an option—and a delicious one, too! Make it an easy addition to your diet by steeping it in hot water for a fragrant morning tea, or add it to your favorite Thai curry recipe.

What You Definitely Shouldn’t Ingest If You Want To Avoid Mosquito Bites

There are lots of claims that suggest eating this-or-that food will make your scent less appealing mosquito bait. But actual science says it may be more about what you don’t consume than what you do.

Recent studies have concluded that drinking even a single beer makes you a far more attractive snack than your sober friend, for instance. While scientists aren’t yet sure why this is, the correlation is supported by evidence—however unfortunate. 

So consider yourself warned the next time you’re at an outdoor barbeque and about to crack open a cold one. Bring a light sweater for the occasion so you can cover up accessible skin, or head on inside to avoid the onslaught.


Also consider avoiding spicy food if you’re known to overheat. Science also knows that mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid, which is found in your sweat. Skip on that extra hot salsa and carry a bottle of ice cold water with you to keep yourself cool when the sun’s out.

Best Practices For Avoiding Mosquito Bites

At the end of the day, the easiest way to protect your body from the discomfort of mosquito bites… not to mention the dangerous diseases they can carry… is a good store-bought repellent containing DEET. The Mosquito Control Association says a light spray on your clothes or exposed skin will do the trick… not only for mosquitoes, but for ticks, too! 

If you’re not a fan of chemicals and prefer an all-natural approach, play with adding the above foods to your diet at the appropriate time, and see what happens. Your own experience can be proof enough, so long as it works for you! 

Remember, too, that you always have the option to wear loose or thick clothing that mosquitoes can’t bite through. This doesn’t require a funky diet or stinky spray—just some planning ahead.

And while playing outside is the best part of summertime, consider moving activities inside when mosquitoes are most active—dawn and dusk.


foods to repel mosquitoes

These Foods Can Do More Than Just Repel Mosquitoes… They Could Also Help You Lose Weight

This might be the reason so many Asian dishes have so much garlic and lemongrass in them:

Over time, people in areas of Southeast and South Asia found that consuming a lot of garlic and lemongrass helped naturally guard against the mosquitos that can be endemic to an area.

However, there’s another benefit to eating these two foods as well…

And it’s likely the reason that Southeast Asia and South Asia enjoy some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.

A leading TV weight loss doctor recently made this connection from a surprising “accidental discovery,” and he made a short video about how this discovery can help you lose a lot more weight more quickly, including:

  • How one of these foods naturally “feeds” the other
  • Why this combination works so well for weight loss, and
  • How much of each to eat for maximum weight loss.

Click here to enjoy the video, and bon appetit!