These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z
These Foods Can Help Reduce Your Anxiety, According to a Nutritional Psychiatrist
Relief may be at the end of your fork. If you’ve ever been worried or nervous, you might be able to testify that an anxious mind brings about an anxious stomach. Those butterflies in the stomach are no accident! But there are foods that can reduce that anxiety, and the more chronic kind, too. When you get stressed on occasion, it’s totally normal—even good for you. There’s even a word for the healthy form of stress: Eustress is what arises in response to particular, short-term problems, like a presentation you have to give at work. It might give you a nervous stomach for a bit, but it helps you do what needs to be done. But this response can turn from everyday stress into chronic anxiety, and that can hinder your quality of life and lead to other health problems. In my field, nutritional psychiatry, we address these symptoms through focusing on gut health and foods that can ease anxiety in the long term. That’s because the link between the gut and the brain goes beyond those butterflies. When it comes to the gut-brain connection, the health of one directly influences the health of the other. In particular, the microbiome, or unique collection of your gut microbes, can be a key determinant of anxious systems. Inflammation in the gut, which can be caused by an excess of unhealthy bacteria, contributes to inflammation in the brain. When inflammation is present in the brain, stress and anxiety can arise, especially when this inflammation is chronic. So, it’s important to understand which foods will keep your gut healthy and inflammation at bay. Overall, focusing the diet on wholesome, fiber and nutrient rich foods with plenty of healthy fats and clean proteins supports reduced levels of inflammation and stress, while also supporting satiety so we don’t reach for the anxiety-inducing foods like sugar sweetened beverages and processed snacks. The foods here are particular stars when it comes to reducing inflammation and supporting a sense of calm and focus.
2023-06-19T13:15:48Z
