Forget garlic, experts say use DEET to fight off mosquito bites
While studies in recent years have found that applying essential oils to skin, including garlic oil, can briefly deter mosquito bites, experts say there are far more effective repellents.
'As a repellent, I think it's extremely mild at best,' Daniel Markowski, a technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association said in an interview with The Washington Post.
Senate megabill marks biggest Medicaid cuts in history
According to the AMCA, a chemical mixture known as DEET has been considered the gold standard of mosquito repellents for more than 50 years. It can be applied directly onto skin or clothing and is available in a variety of formats, including liquids, sprays and lotions.
In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency conducted a review of DEET and did not identify any risks of concern to human health. It is important to note that DEET can cause skin irritation, so experts advise against using it in excess, inhaling it or using it on skin that is already irritated or has wounds.
Former FDA chief: Ultraprocessed foods are 'addictive' like drugs
The AMCA notes that there are more than 3,000 different species of mosquitos throughout the world, 176 of which are recognized in the U.S. While most mosquito bites result in small, red, itchy bumps, experts advising seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen as mosquitos can spread illnesses like the West Nile virus and Zika.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Survey Shows Why People Skip Workouts and How to Fix It
Most of us are no stranger to skipping a workout class. Maybe we were a little too cozy in bed, riding out a hangover, or recovering from a night of tossing and turning. It happens. But turns out, we're creatures of habit in more ways than one. Not only do most people skip workouts for the same reasons, they tend to skip on the same days, too, according to new data from ClassPass, the monthly subscription service that lets members book everything from yoga to HIIT to open gym time. ClassPass analyzed three years of booking data to see when and why people actually bail on workouts. As it turns out, we're a lot more predictable than we think. The biggest spike in missed classes? July 5th, Daylight Savings Sunday, the day after Election Day, and January 1. "One of the more surprising patterns we uncovered is how late cancellations spike around specific calendar moments—not just early mornings or weekends," said Jeff Bladt, who leads marketplace strategy at ClassPass. "Year after year, certain dates reliably derail fitness routines."Out of all the skipped dates in the calendar year, January 1 stands out as the most unexpected, Bladt says. While it's the day most associated with fresh starts, it also seems to be the day when the most people ghost their goals just as the new year begins. "You'd think New Year's Day would be the biggest fitness boom, but it's actually the flakiest day in terms of cancellations," he says. "Across the U.S., more people ghost their workouts on January 1 than any other day." Out of all the days of the week, the data also revealed that Sunday mornings are the flakiest time slot overall, and early bird classes (think 5 to 6 a.m.) top the list of most likely to be ghosted. "Both Sunday mornings and early weekday mornings reveal an intention gap between someone's 'planning self' and their 'present self,'" Bladt says. "These time slots usually reflect strong intentions—to start the week fresh, to build a habit, to squeeze in fitness before the day gets busy. But when the alarm goes off, the snooze button often wins."Bladt emphasizes that it's not just one type of workout class taking the hit; everything from HIIT and spin to yoga and strength training sees a drop-off. "It's more that life happens, people want to sleep in, they prioritize social plans, and they miss those early classes," he says. Reig McConnell, CPT, CNC, and U.S. Army veteran, has heard just about every excuse for skipping a workout. But he has a few tricks for keeping his clients motivated, starting with helping them stay focused on their purpose. "To help keep my clients from bailing on their workouts for the long term, I use the analogy of building a house," he says. "Just like a house, your body is built brick by brick. At the end of this month or year, they're going to have to live in what we've built. Reminding them that every workout is a step in the right direction helps keep them motivated throughout the process as they work toward their final goal." Survey Shows Why People Skip Workouts and How to Fix It first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 7, 2025
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-WeightWatchers names new medical chief, plans to offer menopause therapy and support
By Amina Niasse NEW YORK (Reuters) -WeightWatchers will announce on Tuesday Dr. Kim Boyd as its chief medical officer, and plans for a new program to help women manage the transition into menopause and beyond, part of its growth strategy in emerging from bankruptcy. Boyd, a Stanford University graduate who has worked with several consumer health startups, said in an interview that WeightWatchers is building upon its decades-long work providing weight management tools to also address the specific needs of people using obesity treatments. That includes Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound. The company says its model promoting balanced eating and exercise helps subscribers reduce gastrointestinal side effects from the medicines and lose more weight on Wegovy. 'We have the foundation, and we will continue to evolve our programming to show up in a way that matches best with the addition of medications,' Boyd said. WeightWatchers CEO Tara Comonte said such support for members using weight-loss drugs should appeal to health insurers and employers who pay for health benefits as they seek more sustainable management of the costly medications. "It's a different business model and these partnerships and relationships take a much longer period of time than dialing up some direct to consumer marketing or promotional models," Comonte said. The program for perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause will include access to prescription treatments such as hormone replacement therapy, as well as behavioral and nutritional support for members, a significant proportion of whom are women ages 40 to 60 years old, WeightWatchers said. More details will become available later this year, the company, also known as WW International, said. 'It is a very natural overlap. In the perimenopausal and menopausal phase, up to 70% of women experience weight gain,' Boyd said. CHANGING WEIGHT LOSS MARKET Boyd previously served as national medical director at One Medical, a clinical business now owned by and later was chief medical officer at weight-management company Calibrate. Her appointment comes nearly a year after previous Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amy Meister stepped down. In the interim, WeightWatchers emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, after struggling to compete with other online weight-management platforms selling cheaper, compounded versions of obesity treatments, including telehealth companies like Hims & Hers Health. The market for weight-management companies is changing since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered an end to sales of compounded versions of Wegovy in late May. WeightWatchers last month announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to sell Wegovy through the drugmaker's NovoCare pharmacy. Hims & Hers continues to offer smaller doses of compounded Wegovy than what is available from Novo, arguing they are providing a personalized medication that is not subject to the FDA ban. Industry analysts, however, have questioned whether that strategy will leave Hims vulnerable to legal challenges. Hims has said it also plans to expand into testosterone and menopause treatments as part of its growth strategy in the coming years. WeightWatchers has stopped selling compounded weight-loss drugs, and its partnership with Novo may prove more attractive to employer-sponsored health plans in the long run, Boyd said. "At the foundation of this is prescribing FDA-approved medications," Comonte said. 'We only prescribe branded drugs." A month's supply of Wegovy is listed at over $1,000 per month, but many people pay less through insurance. Cash-pay patients can access the treatment for $499 through NovoCare. 'For employers, some of them are finding value in these vendors like WeightWatchers... that give the members the lifestyle tools,' said Chantell Reagan, a senior director at advisory firm Willis Towers Watson. These strategies may help an employee sustain weight loss if they stop using a drug, she said. 'We are looking very closely at our employers that are using these programs and assessing the effectiveness.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
6 nutrition deficiencies you might not notice, according to a dietitian — and how seniors can get these important nutrients into their diet
Nutrition can often be an overlooked key to longevity for older adults. Prioritizing proper nutrition as we age can help prevent or manage chronic disease, improve quality of life and support a healthy lifestyle as we get older. As a registered dietitian who has worked in long-term care for the better part of the last decade, I've worked with many seniors on reviewing and optimizing their diet. I've noticed that six nutrients are commonly neglected, missed or not consumed in adequate amounts to support healthy aging. From fibre to calcium, below are the nutrients you should ensure you're getting enough of. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The majority of people don't consume enough fibre, and the same is true for older adults. The recommendations for women over age 51 is 21 grams per day, and it's 30 grams for men in the same age group. Fibre's most notable role is keeping bowels regular, but it can also help lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. If you're experiencing constipation, uncontrolled diabetes or high cholesterol, it might be time to focus on fibre. And if you do start prioritizing this nutrient, be sure to increase your fluids at the same time. Fluids help fibre move through our system without us getting constipated, or feeling bloated. To get more fibre into your diet, try to include one or two options below for each meal, along with one option for snacks: Beans and lentils Fruits and vegetables Avocado Bran cereal Oats Prunes Whole grains As we age, the amount of protein we eat tends to decrease. This can be for a number of reasons: Decreased appetite, difficulty chewing, financial restrictions or physical limitations impacting our ability to shop or cook. However, getting enough protein as an older adult is key to maintaining muscle mass, supporting bone health, wound healing and delaying overall frailty. Protein recommendations are individualized based on weight, health goals and age, but in general, aim for 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal, so approximately 75 to 90g protein per day. Include a source of protein from the list below with every meal. If you're aiming for more protein in your diet, try eating the following foods: Greek yogurt Cottage cheese Beans and lentils Soy products (tofu, edamame, soy milk) Chicken Fish Lean red meat Eggs Hemp hearts Nuts and seeds The recommended amount of fluids we need decreases as we age. However, most older adults don't even meet that amount. Decreased thirst sensation, mobility issues, impaired taste sensation, medications or concerns about incontinence are all factors that may cause us to drink less as we age. Dehydration is much more than just feeling thirsty. It can cause constipation (especially if you've started eating more fibre), along with cognitive and functional decline. Most people at risk of dehydration are those over age 85, but for the average person, eight to 10 cups of fluids per day is recommended (unless another amount has been suggested by your health-care practitioner). To tell if you're properly hydrated, check your urine. It should be pale yellow, or almost clear. If you struggle to drink enough fluids, try setting alarms to remind you to drink throughout the day, have a glass of water first thing in the morning and keep a reusable bottle or glass nearby to sip on. When aiming for more fluids, water will always be the first choice. But if you don't like plain water, try flavouring it with lemon, or sugar-free flavourings. Still, all liquids technically count towards our fluid goal, including coffee, tea, soup, smoothies and milk. Fruits and vegetables with a high water content — like watermelon, peaches, oranges, cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes — also provide fluids. This vitamin is found primarily in animal protein sources, and as we discussed above, many older adults do not eat enough protein. Additionally, as we age, the amount of vitamin B12 our body absorbs decreases. This means older adults are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, with an estimated six to 15 per cent of seniors having a confirmed deficiency. Even if you eat sufficient amounts of protein and have a good appetite, a vitamin B12 supplement may be recommended. If you don't eat meat, fish or seafood, or you have any medical conditions that impact digestion or absorption of foods, I recommend talking to your health-care team about starting a B12 supplement. Some great foods to focus on if you need more vitamin B12 include: Shellfish, like mussels and clams Fish, including sardines, trout, salmon and tuna Red meat Eggs Dairy and fortified non-dairy milks Nutritional yeast These two micronutrients are best known for their role in supporting bone health and preventing osteoporosis, although there is evidence to suggest they do more than just that. Calcium can be found in more foods than just dairy products, but vitamin D is found in very few foods, so supplementation is generally recommended. Continue to include foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D, but also talk to your health-care provider and pharmacist about taking a supplement. If you're taking a vitamin D supplement, it's best absorbed when taken with a source of fat (like oil, butter, nuts, seeds, avocado or nut butter). I encourage people to take it with their largest meal of the day, which is usually dinner, and tends to include a good source of fat. To get more of these micronutrients, opt for foods like: Dairy products and fortified non-dairy milks Calcium-set tofu Fish, like salmon and canned sardines with bones Kale White beans Chia seeds As we age, our dietary needs change, and it's easy for some nutrients to get overlooked. Protein, fibre, fluids, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D are common nutrition gaps among older adults, so it's important to be aware that you're getting enough of these nutrients. By being mindful of how much you're consuming and making a point to include them in your daily diet, it can help support healthy aging and help you feel your best.
