Bananas and beer: Surprising culprits in mosquito attraction
Do you know that feeling? You're sitting quietly on the terrace, everyone else is enjoying themselves, and you... are a living buffet for mosquitoes. One person has been bitten three times, while you have been bitten thirty. And it's not about "sweet blood." The answer might be much simpler (and surprisingly culinary).
Research shows that what you eat has a real impact on how attractive you are to mosquitoes. Two seemingly innocent foods can signal: "Here I am, bite me!". One of them is... bananas.
Why do mosquitoes bite some more than others?
It's not a myth – mosquitoes really do have their preferences. Have you ever sat next to someone and, to your horror, counted the bites on your skin while the other person escapes completely unscathed? It's not a matter of bad luck, nor "sweet blood," as grandmothers would say. It's all due to the biology and chemistry of the body.
Mosquitoes do not bite randomly. They have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, which allows them to detect even microscopic amounts of certain substances in the air. They react to:
- carbon dioxide (CO₂) – everyone exhales it during breathing, but people with faster metabolisms or larger body mass exhale more,
- lactic acid – released by the skin, especially after physical activity,
- ketone bodies and ammonia – byproducts of metabolism, detectable in sweat,
- body temperature and skin moisture – warmer individuals are "more visible" to mosquitoes.
Diet matters too – be particularly cautious with bananas
Although it may seem odd, what you eat truly affects how much you attract mosquitoes. Some foods alter the chemical composition of your sweat or breath, and mosquitoes can sense this with amazing precision. At the top of this list is something very unassuming: bananas.
Why do bananas attract mosquitoes?
Bananas are sources of:
- potassium – the excess of which is partially excreted through the skin,
- simple sugars – which can affect glucose levels in the blood and sweat,
- sulfur compounds and aldehydes – which, after digestion, can change the smell of your skin.
After eating a banana, the body begins to release more lactic acid and other volatile substances that mosquitoes love. That's why people who regularly eat bananas – especially on hot days – may notice they become more frequent targets for bites.
Other foods that attract mosquitoes
It's not only bananas that can turn you into mosquitoes' "favourite victim". There is a whole list of ingredients that affect the smell of your sweat, breath, and even body temperature. Here they are:
- Alcohol (especially beer): increases body temperature – making it easier for mosquitoes to "locate you". It increases the release of lactic acid by the skin – mosquitoes' favourite treat, and also dilates blood vessels and stimulates circulation – meaning blood flows closer to the skin's surface. Mosquitoes like easy access.
- Red meat – fatty and hard to digest: increases body temperature after a meal. It can affect changes in the skin microbiome and sweat odour.
- Garlic and onions: although they repel humans, their intense smell can enhance skin odour if consumed regularly. They release sulfur compounds through the skin and breath – some mosquitoes like that.
- Sweets and simple sugar: raise glucose levels in the blood and sweat. Excess sugar can disrupt the skin's natural microbiome.
- Caffeine: does not attract by itself but stimulates the body, can raise body temperature and increase sweating.
