Annoying bugs vs. the Vegan Diet

[xxxLOGICxxx]

most "annoying" bugs are attracted to CO2

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en507/papers_1995/donohue.html

Well guessssss whatttt

http://timeforchange.org/eat-less-meat-co2-emission-of-food

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24163/CO2-Emissions-of-Foods-and-Diets

http://www.lifedynamix.com/articles/Ask-Doctor/Vegetarianism_Is_It_Healthy.html ----- "If the doctor could answer a question, ... recently a co-worker has changed her diet to vegetarian in order to prevent mosquito bites for an upcoming school camping trip. I doubted her tactics...can you tell me any scientific facts in this area? Do vegetarians/vegans get bitten less than meatn-eaters? Thank-you for you time, Kim
December 8, 2005, 12:00 am, kim zeitler

Dr. Ferrel Response

Good question. I know of no studies that support this idea. It would make a good science project to design and do one. Respiratory CO2 signals atract mosquitos to their food source. Theoretically, meat eaters might send more CO2 (carbon dioxide) signals in their respiration than non-meat eater. Meat metabolism leaves a metabolic acid ash vs. the alkaline ash of a vegie diet. Acidosis requires more neutralization by our carbolic acid buffering system thus producing more CO2 in the respiration of meat eaters that attract the mosquitos. Also certain plant chemicals are known to be natural insect repelents, If the respired air of vegie eaters contain more of these natural food chemicals, it could also make a difference. This might explain why ruminant mammals like cows don't contract mosquito borne infections like the non-ruminant animals like horses that consume the same food. Similarly, natural food chemicals can be used topically to discourage bites. They need to be applied more often, but I would have less reservation to use them than any man-made chemical, such as DEET. Your co-workers diet choice is a excellent one, regardless of her intent. An informed commitment to a veggie/Vegan diet is one of the best health choices she can make.
December 8, 2005, 12:00 am, James A. Ferrel M.D, CNC "



so yeah bugs CAN be annoying, but they don't want to be, they're just doing their "jobs", so we should too! lol 

[evilpsychic]

Interesting... I've been Vegetarian (and Vegan sometimes) for almost 3 years now. I don't remember ever having a mosquito bite in the last 3 years.

[evilpsychic]

How ironic. The day I say that is the day I get a mosquito on me. lolz

She didn't bite me though, I moved her.

[xxxLOGICxxx]

wow such a perfectly relevant story. That was a darn near perfect experience relative to the topic. 

[evilpsychic]

If I was still Vegan I wonder if it would have ever happened.