Ketosis vs Mosquitoes

NGentRD

Not going to lie I used to get bit a lot. Now I don't (maybe twice but thats a hair compared to what I used to get)

I found that Dr Logan, working with colleagues at Aberdeen University, conducted a study and analysed the body odours produced by a panel of volunteers found to be resistant to mosquitoes and compared them with the body odours of those who attracted the insects.

For this study the volunteers needed to stick to strict diets, not to drink alcohol and avoid using perfumes and deodorant so their natural body odour could be collected.

And what they discovered was five ketones that were effective at repelling the mosquitoes and when the ketones were sprayed on the skin of volunteers who were normally attractive to mosquitoes, the insects were repelled.

The results where so successful that they are now developing a new kind of ketone insect repellent to help those whose bodies do not produce these ketones.

I am interested in anyone else’s experience in the comments section below:

JeromeBarry1

This could be news. I'd been taught that mosquitos could track CO2. If that had been true, mosquitoes would prefer to land on our faces. Instead, they prefer to land anywhere on our skin, where our microbiomes live and excrete.

nvmomketo

I found no noticeable difference after going ketogenic. Mosquitoes still bite. Too often.

A friend of mine said consuming sulfur before bug season could help repel the bugs. Stuff like MSM. I recently added it to my supplements to hopefully help with joint issues; it would be a nice side effect.

Running_and_Coffee

Hmmm. I live in South Florida and we've had tons of rain (puddles to attract mosquitos) and I run outside, and have NOT noticed any bug bites recently. I am on keto. I am not sure if that's because my community has beefed up its bug repellent spraying, though, or if I'm less "sweet" to the bugs. I'll happily take this side effect if it's true!

jefamer2017

I rarely get bit and have never been on a keto diet. I can literally go an entire summer without a mosquito bite and all my friends will be covered in welts.

baconslave

The difference between mosquitoes' interest in me while in ketosis vs. not is MARKED. I went from drawing them to me every time I was outside coming in covered in bites (pre-keto) vs. nary a single one in ketosis. I was keto for 1.5 years. When I switched to just low-carb, they started biting me again. Though as long as I stay mostly low-carb they do not bite me as frequently as during my old diet.

nvmomketo

baconslave wrote: »

The difference between mosquitoes' interest in me while in ketosis vs. not is MARKED. I went from drawing them to me every time I was outside coming in covered in bites (pre-keto) vs. nary a single one in ketosis. I was keto for 1.5 years. When I switched to just low-carb, they started biting me again. Though as long as I stay mostly low-carb they do not bite me as frequently as during my old diet.

I'm jealous... I'm covered in bites even if I wear deet.

nutmegoreo

I hear the keto breath is real. They may be on to something.

L1zardQueen

nutmegoreo wrote: »

I hear the keto breath is real. They may be on to something.

My thoughts also! HAAAAAAAAA

L1zardQueen

I'm not keto but I am also immune from bites. I must stink.

Orphia

nutmegoreo wrote: »

I hear the keto breath is real. They may be on to something.

Yep, that was my first thought when I read the OP.

nvmomketo

nutmegoreo wrote: »

I hear the keto breath is real. They may be on to something.

That's not all that common, and is quite often from higher protein or dehydration due to lost water weight.

I could be wrong - I never experienced keto breath and mosquitoes still like me...

jgnatca

Born and bred in mosquito country and I’m not that attractive to the little buzzers any more. Not Keto. Don’t know why.

Momepro

I'm not on any kind of keto diet or anything close, but mosquitos don't bite me. Neither do fleas and ticks. I was a groomer for 20 years and got one flea bite, total, even with some really loaded dogs and cats. I have not been bitten by a mosquito since I was a teenager.

GottaBurnEmAll

I used to get bites like crazy when I was a kid, but now I don't. I'm not keto.

baconslave

nvmomketo wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

The difference between mosquitoes' interest in me while in ketosis vs. not is MARKED. I went from drawing them to me every time I was outside coming in covered in bites (pre-keto) vs. nary a single one in ketosis. I was keto for 1.5 years. When I switched to just low-carb, they started biting me again. Though as long as I stay mostly low-carb they do not bite me as frequently as during my old diet.

I'm jealous... I'm covered in bites even if I wear deet.

I've read a study or article. (Maybe I can find it...later. Oldest has a cutthroat soccer game this morning.) It said they're more likely to bite people of particular blood types more than others. As in, if there's A-pos and O-pos available to bite, they will preferentially choose the O. I'm O-pos, but my Hubs is A, and I don't think he's EVER been bitten by a mosquito or midge. EVER. 2 of my kids are like him. The other 2 are more like me. I joke that they don't need bug spray when I'm around, because the bugs are too busy biting ME. Or used to be. Now the skeeters have a harder decision.

mkculs

Tip for runners: be the first one out on the trail, or avoid following anyone closer than about 10 minutes ahead of you. Mosquitoes are very territorial and will not follow very far. The first person passing by stirs them up but is out of range too quickly. The next person by is swarmed if they haven't settled back down. 4 decades of trail running behind me and this has proven true time and time again. I have also found that in most cases, "brisk walking" isn't quite fast enough to escape if you rouse them. I'm a pretty slow runner these days and so would guess that you need to be moving about 5 mph to avoid getting bitten if they are not already roused. Give it a try and let me know what you experience.

nvmomketo

baconslave wrote: »

nvmomketo wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

The difference between mosquitoes' interest in me while in ketosis vs. not is MARKED. I went from drawing them to me every time I was outside coming in covered in bites (pre-keto) vs. nary a single one in ketosis. I was keto for 1.5 years. When I switched to just low-carb, they started biting me again. Though as long as I stay mostly low-carb they do not bite me as frequently as during my old diet.

I'm jealous... I'm covered in bites even if I wear deet.

I've read a study or article. (Maybe I can find it...later. Oldest has a cutthroat soccer game this morning.) It said they're more likely to bite people of particular blood types more than others. As in, if there's A-pos and O-pos available to bite, they will preferentially choose the O. I'm O-pos, but my Hubs is A, and I don't think he's EVER been bitten by a mosquito or midge. EVER. 2 of my kids are like him. The other 2 are more like me. I joke that they don't need bug spray when I'm around, because the bugs are too busy biting ME. Or used to be. Now the skeeters have a harder decision.

I'm A+ plus.

My hubby is rarely bitten too. One of my three kids rarely gets a bite either.

I once freaked out my kids with the bugs. It was a wet soccer season so there were TONNES of bugs. The type of day where the goalies looked like they were dancing because they were constantly swatting bugs.I had on jeans, a long black jacket with the hood up, in an effort to keep off the bugs. At one point the kids had me look at my back. It must have had well over 50 mosquitoes on it - YUCK!

TavistockToad

They love my husband... not so fussed for me though.

NGentRD

Interesting feedback everyone! I guess there are a lot of factors! I’m AB+ blood type (which I call the selfish kind). I’ve heard they can detect CO2 and that’s how they can detect organisms with blood! I’m just enjoying the not getting bit for once.

mph323

baconslave wrote: »

nvmomketo wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

The difference between mosquitoes' interest in me while in ketosis vs. not is MARKED. I went from drawing them to me every time I was outside coming in covered in bites (pre-keto) vs. nary a single one in ketosis. I was keto for 1.5 years. When I switched to just low-carb, they started biting me again. Though as long as I stay mostly low-carb they do not bite me as frequently as during my old diet.

I'm jealous... I'm covered in bites even if I wear deet.

I've read a study or article. (Maybe I can find it...later. Oldest has a cutthroat soccer game this morning.) It said they're more likely to bite people of particular blood types more than others. As in, if there's A-pos and O-pos available to bite, they will preferentially choose the O. I'm O-pos, but my Hubs is A, and I don't think he's EVER been bitten by a mosquito or midge. EVER. 2 of my kids are like him. The other 2 are more like me. I joke that they don't need bug spray when I'm around, because the bugs are too busy biting ME. Or used to be. Now the skeeters have a harder decision.

Huh. I'm AB- and my husband is 0+. He never gets bitten, while I look like I fell into a nest when we go camping, even covered in deet. Maybe a combo of blood type and other factors?