Don't drink beer if you want to avoid mosquito bites

Updated
Why Beer Can Make You a Mosquito Magnet
Why Beer Can Make You a Mosquito Magnet


Everyone loves relaxing outside in summer, preferably with a nice cold beer in hand. But if you want to avoid being bitten by mosquitos, you might want to swap your bottle of Bud for a glass of water.

See also: Three beers that can actually be good for you

See also: Boozy food: sweet and savoury dishes that benefit from a little tipple

Research has shown that people who drink even a little beer are more likely to be bitten than those who don't drink alcohol. While giving up the booze can help, avoiding beer may not stop you from getting bitten altogether.

Are you a mosquito magnet?
According to Smithsonian, one-in-five people have blood that's tasty to mosquitos, which explains why some people can be covered with bites while others barely have any. One study found that in a controlled setting, mosquitoes landed on people with Type O blood nearly twice as often as those with Type A.


The larger you are, the more of an insect magnet you can expect to be. Mosquitoes find their victims by smelling the carbon dioxide on our breath - and the bigger you are, the more carbon dioxide you exhale. Experts believe this is one of the reasons why children get bitten less than adults.


If you're hot and sweaty, you're also more likely to be nibbled on. In addition to carbon dioxide, mosquitoes locate their targets by smelling ammonia and other substances expelled via sweat - and prefer those with a higher body temperature.

So how can you avoid getting bitten? Wear long, loose-fitting clothes, and plenty of repellent. Mosquitos don't want to work for their food, so they'll leave you alone and feast on someone wearing hot-pants instead.

You should also avoid standing water. Mosquitos love to take a refreshing dip as much as you do, so don't picnic near the lake. You have been warned!

Stock up for summer: Buy mosquito repellents, nets and plug-ins

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