Darn those little buggers! I went to a BBQ the other night and was getting eaten alive by pesky mosquitoes. Someone at the party said, "Just eat garlic and they won't come near you." Reminds me of vampire folklore.

It's true - mosquitoes and garlic don't mix. If you flavor your food with a lot of garlic or take garlic supplements, the compounds are released from your body through your skin and your breath. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, and to certain smells like sweat and the bacteria on our feet. The sulfur in garlic is what's believed to repel those buggers.

There are actually many natural bug repellents that include garlic, but some people's skin can have a bad reaction to it (not to mention there are social side effects to rubbing yourself with garlic - who's going to want to be near you when you smell like that?).

While there is no scientific evidence to back this up, it's worth a shot since garlic is so good for your health anyway.

Fit's Tips: I'd still use DEET-free bug repellents though so you're doubly protected from mosquito bites.

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