Vodka: Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent

A spray bottle of your choosing, then just fill it with a cheep Vodka that it... It really works and you won't smell like vodka and at the same time it will refresh your clothes... Works great for mosquitoes and biting flies...  This one especial for my buddy Dick D.

 Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world
Beware the dangers of tigers, sharks, snakes? Actually, fear the mosquito, the most lethal creature on the planet. More deaths are caused by mosquitoes than any other animal, thanks to bugs' aid in spreading malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis. A single malarial mosquito can infect more than 100 people; and according to the World Health Organization, malaria kills a child every 45 seconds in Africa. 

Read more: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-mosquitoes#ixzz3mkvhOouC

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5 ounces of red wine at night could be good...

Cheers to weight loss, courtesy of your favorite glass of cabernet sauvignon. Researchers at Oregon State’s College of Agricultural Studies took a closer look at the benefits behind the buzz, and published their findings in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Overweight Americans can raise a toast to a road of health and happiness and for possibly having a secret solution to weight loss. When researchers discovered the benefits from a glass of wine could lead to weight loss last year, they wanted to understand what exactly was going on inside the grapes and the body.

The team spent 10 weeks feeding mice a high-fat diet. Once they were chubby enough, half of them were given extracts from red wine Pinot noir grapes, while the other half had a general blend of “mouse chow.” The wined-and-dined mice not only stored less liver fat, but they also had lower blood sugar.  It turns out ellargic acids inside a vineyard’s grapes have the power to delay the growth of fat cells and slow the development of new ones.

“The high-fat-fed mice developed fatty liver and diabetic symptoms — the same metabolic consequences we see in many overweight, sedentary people,” said the study’s co-author Neil Shay, a scientist at the college’s agriculture research lab, in a press release. “If we could develop a dietary strategy for reducing the harmful accumulation of fat in the liver using common foods like grapes, that would be good news.”

The study’s confirmation of red wine’s benefits gives drinkers reassurance with each sip. Although, you could also just eat a handful of red grapes and gain the same benefits as a glass of merlot, but a little buzz puts the mind at ease, and adds several other bonuses.

5 Buzz-Worthy Benefits Of Red Wine:

1. Memory Protection Against Alzheimer’s Disease: The powerful antioxidant resveratrol protects against cell damage and prevents age-related mental decline.
2. Mimics Gym Time: Resveratrol is also responsible for heart-healthy benefits, including improved physical performance and muscle strength. It also mimics cardiovascular enhancements similar to exercise. But the benefits are limited, so don’t always trade in your cardio for cabernet.
3. Cancer Treatment: Researchers aren’t exactly sure how, but another active antioxidant in red wine known as quercetin works against cancer cells, according to the American Cancer Society. It helps to induce natural cell death in certain types of cancers, most often colon cancer.
4. Promotes Long Life: Red wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or vodka drinkers, according to a 29-year-long study. Resveratrol is the polyphenol that could be responsible for its longevity benefits. But researchers think any diet rich in polyphenols, which are known to protect against the development of chronic diseases — they're found amply in red wine — could be why.
5. Lowers Risk Of Heart Disease and Stroke: Red wine tannins, which are what make red wine the color red, contain procyanidins — known for protecting against heart disease. Resveratrol also helps to remove chemicals responsible for causing blood clots, which is the primary cause of coronary disease. A daily dose of red wine cuts blood clot-related stroke rates by 50 percent.

Source: Shay N, Okla M, Kang I, Kim DM, Gourineni V, and Chung S. Ellagic acid modeulates lipid accumulation in primary human adipocytes and human hepatoma Huh7 cells via discrete mechanisms. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2015.

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This one especial for Manuel...

12 plants that repel unwanted insects

Are you an insect magnet? If you aren’t, you probably know one. Insect magnets attract annoying insects the second they walk outdoors — or so it seems.

If this describes you, take comfort in knowing that one of the ways you can fight back against mosquitoes, gnats, flies, no-see-ums and other pesky bugs doesn’t have to involve covering yourself with a sticky spray or engaging in chemical warfare. To help you enjoy going outdoors, try strategically placing insect-repelling plants in your garden or on your patio.

Essential oils in these plants act as nature’s bug repellent. Insects tend to avoid them. You can even use some of these plants to make your own natural bug repellent.

But know that simply including insect-repelling plants in your landscape will not in itself ensure your garden is insect free.

“There’s not enough research in this area to support that,” says Dr. Bodie Pennisi, an associate professor and extension landscape specialist at the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus. “The concentration of oils is not there to offer that kind of protection.”

There may be fewer insects, but no one’s done the research into how many plants, planted how close together, would be effective in repelling insects to any great extent, says Pennisi. One of the best things people can do to hold down mosquito populations, she advises, is to eliminate any standing water, which is where mosquitoes breed.
Read more: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects#ixzz3mlG1WhnW

Basil

Mint

Lemon Thyme

Lavender is among the plants that act as natural insect repellents. (Photo: Limbo Poet/flickr)

Rosemary

Lemongrass

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Click for photo credits
Photo credits:Rosemary globules: Courtesy Bodie Pennisi

Basil: Till Westermayer/flickr

Lavender: Jacques PALUT/Shutterstock

Lemon thyme: Kristen Taylor/flickr

Lemongrass: Iqbal Osman/flickr

Mint: Chamille White/Shutterstock

Rosemary: Alice Henneman/flickr




Read more: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects#ixzz3mlKB1QLC