Strange question about eating bananas in the summer

[helenk]

Okay, this may be weird, but I have to ask someone.....
My sister in law was told to eat more foods that are higher in potassium, so of course everyone has recommended bananas. She told me that you should not eat bananas in the summer because the sweetness goes through your blood stream and the bugs are more drawn to you because of it???
Now I eat fruit all year round, bananas included, and I've never heard of such a thing. Is this an old wives tale?

 

[wishiwasgolfing]

Never heard of such a thing. But who knows it could be true.

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

Well, I live in Alabama where the moscuito is the state bird I have heard that if you eat bananas the mosquitos are more attracted to you. I haven't noticed any difference - they are going to bite me no matter what I do. DH will get one or two bites and I will get 20.

 

[Kaycee]

I don't have a scientific answer, but I can tell you my experience. I eat a banana every morning for breakfast year-round. I also have at least one or two other servings of fruit every day - I just love fruit! In fact, I am eating strawberries right now. I cannot tell you the last time I had a bug bite. It has been years. I have been in several situations where those around me have complained about getting bitten by bugs, but none were bothering me.

Contrast that with when I was younger, had very poor eating habits, and rarely if ever ate fresh fruit. I seemed to have bug bites all the time back then.

I'm not saying that eating fruit has kept me from getting bug bites, but it definitely hasn't caused me to get more.

 

[helenk]

Well, my sister in law has a tendency to collect all this info from who knows where. I figured if any one knew anything it would be here.

 

[Figment22]

She told me that you should not eat bananas in the summer because the sweetness goes through your blood stream and the bugs are more drawn to you because of it???
Now I eat fruit all year round, bananas included, and I've never heard of such a thing. Is this an old wives tale?

Apparently it is:
http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/skeeters.asp

BTW, many other foods are also high in potassium:
HIGH potassium (more than 225 milligrams per 1/2 c. serving)

These foods would be beneficial to athletes or to others who incur heavy fluid loss. Patients on potassium-restricted diets should avoid them, or eat them sparingly, as advised by their nutritionist.

All meats, poultry and fish are high in potassium.
Apricots (fresh more so than canned)
Avocado
Banana
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Kiwi
Lima beans
Milk
Oranges and orange juice
Potatoes (can be reduced to moderate by soaking peeled, sliced potatoes overnight before cooking)
Prunes
Spinach
Tomatoes
Vegetable juice
Winter squash

 

[Danvers]

Never heard of such a thing. But who knows it could be true.

Those bananas are spooky!