Monday, June 23, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

How to avoid tick bites this summer

Published 28 May 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Walk your dog on well-trodden paths to reduce the risk of ticks.
4 minute read

Eating garlic and applying coconut oil to your body this summer can reduce the risk of tick bites. There are also other natural ways to deter the parasites.

Why some people suffer more tick bites than others is partly unclear. A 2018 study found that ticks were more attracted to people with blood group A and least to those with B. Some researchers also suggest that it is a matter of body odor and that ticks can be attracted to people who exude ammonia, carbon dioxide or body heat, for example.

There are a lot of tick repellents on the market, both for animals and humans, but they can often contain some substances that are not very healthy. Some say that a number of natural items you have at home can help.

Garlic

Garlic lovers can feel slightly safer from tick bites, some say. Ticks are supposed to dislike garlic, and eating it regularly can scare them away. In a major Swedish study that began in 1998, doctor Johan Berglund investigated how garlic worked against ticks on 100 coastal rangers in the Swedish navy. The results showed that among those who ate garlic capsules, 30 percent more people avoided bites altogether, and those who did get ticks had 30 percent fewer bites.

Note that this only works on humans, animals can get sick from eating garlic and other onions.

Coconut oil

According to insect researcher Anders Lindström, the lauric acid in coconut oil should deter ticks. A 2008 study also supports the idea that coconut oil works well as a tick repellent and you can apply the oil to yourself and your animals. For example, Veronica Axelsson told tax-funded SVT in 2019 how she almost completely avoided ticks on her dogs using only coconut oil.

Rosemary

A 2010 study showed that rosemary remedies were effective against ticks. Here’s how to make your own rosemary decoction:

Boil about one liter of water. Remove the pan from the heat and add a jar of dried rosemary or a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, then leave the mixture to cool under a lid. Adding a little thyme should also be effective, but is not essential. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Spray on the skin before going into tick-infested areas. This should also work on animals. The concoction keeps for about two weeks.

Cloves

A 2006 study looked at different essential oils for tick bites and found that clove was a good option. It should work best if you buy clove as an essential oil and apply it, and you can try making a decoction as with rosemary. When it comes to animals, however, you should be careful with essential oils in general as they can be harmful.

Animals and ticks

Get into the habit of examining your animal every day. One tip is to buy a clothes roller, which is used to remove hair from clothes, and roll the animal from time to time. Ticks that have not yet settled can then get stuck on the roller. It also doesn’t hurt to brush the animal (outdoors) regularly. Ticks often settle around the neck or in armpits, for example. Keep a tick remover or similar readily available to quickly remove ticks from the animal.

Amber collars

Something that is both stylish and effective in preventing ticks is to use an amber collar. Amber is said to create a static charge in the animal’s fur that makes it harder for ticks to settle. Apparently, amber also emits a scent that ticks do not like.

Electromagnetic tick pendants

As with amber, these are supposed to work by electromagnetic charge and thus repel ticks, according to some. It should easily attach to any dog or cat collar.

Removing ticks

It is important to remove the tick as quickly as possible. This can be done with tweezers or with a special tick remover available from pharmacies, for example. Some people take a piece of paper and pinch the tick as close to the skin as possible. When removing it, pull straight out, don’t twist and try to avoid squeezing it too much. You can then flush the tick down the drain, burn it or put it in a glass jar with alcohol/ethanol. The alcohol should be at least 40 percent, says Professor Thomas Jaenson according to Land.se.

Tick-proofing tips

When staying in the forest, or in other places where there is a risk of encountering ticks, it can be advantageous to wear covering clothes, especially on the legs. Tuck your pants into your socks if possible. Smooth fabrics and even rubber boots make it more difficult for ticks to follow you home. One tip is to cover your arms and legs with regular nylon tights as the ticks will slide off the fabric.

Some people say that dark clothes are better than light ones as ticks are more attracted to light fabrics, while others say that light ones are better as it is easier to see the ticks. Regardless of your choice of clothes, you should brush them off thoroughly before entering your home.

Many people are afraid of ticks for understandable reasons, but don’t let this fear prevent you from spending time in nature. Nature is a source of health and well-being that should be taken advantage of. Those who have a little extra difficulty getting over their fear can stay on well-trodden paths and avoid high grass and rough terrain.

TNT is truly independent!

We don’t have a billionaire owner, and our unique reader-funded model keeps us free from political or corporate influence. This means we can fearlessly report the facts and shine a light on the misdeeds of those in power.

Consider a donation to keep our independent journalism running…

Social media feeds young people junk food ads

Published 10 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
A large majority of food advertisements that young people are exposed to promote unhealthy products such as fast food, snacks or sugar-sweetened drinks.
2 minute read

The majority of food advertising that young people encounter on social media promotes unhealthy products. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet, where TikTok is identified as the platform with the highest exposure.

The survey is based on data from young people aged 13-16 who, over the course of a week, documented the advertising they saw in their social media feeds. They were given a choice of platform, with most choosing Tiktok or Instagram.

One third of all the ads young people were exposed to were for food or drink – and 70% of these were for unhealthy products such as fast food, snacks or sugar-sweetened drinks.

Exposure was highest on Tiktok, where participants could encounter up to 26 food-related ads per hour. On Instagram, the average was 13.

– In focus group interviews, participants said they were often tempted to make impulse purchases by the design of the ads. At the same time, several expressed a feeling of powerlessness in the face of the amount of advertising they encounter daily, said Sofia Spolander, researcher at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge in a press release.

Childhood obesity doubled

In the focus group, the young people also described how the advertising affected them and increased their cravings for unhealthy food, and that it was difficult to resist consumption.

Overweight among Swedish children aged 11–15 has more than doubled in the past 30 years, and obesity in this age group has quadrupled, according to the study. Young people are eating more unhealthy food than before, while consuming fewer fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy eating habits are one of the leading causes of poor health and premature death in Sweden.

The food environment influences our eating habits, and marketing is an important part of that environment. This study shows that the advertising young people encounter on social media goes against the dietary guidelines, says Spolander.

The study forms the basis of a new report from UNICEF Sweden and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, which highlights how advertising for food and drink in social media affects the health of children and young people.

Young dog owners’ lifestyles negatively affect their dogs

Published 3 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Today, many people get a pet to fit into their passive lifestyle - rather than adapting to the animal's needs themselves.
2 minute read

Stressed and overweight dog owners feel their lifestyle also impacts their dogs, according to a new Novus survey commissioned by Arken Zoo’s veterinary services. The effect is especially noticeable among younger owners, who report that their own health issues spill over onto their pets.

The survey, conducted between March and April 2025, gathered responses from 1,046 Swedish pet owners aged 18 to 84 about their own and their dog’s well-being. The results reveal a strong link between owner lifestyle and pet health.

Half of pet owners consider themselves overweight, with two in ten not exercising at all. A quarter of dog owners say they walk their dog for an hour a day at most, while 18% say their dog is overweight. Veterinarian Per Bransell says the results are “alarming”, but not surprising.

– Today, many people get an animal to fit into the owner’s lifestyle instead of the owner adapting to the animal. Getting a pet is a commitment every day, not just on weekends and holidays, he said in a press release.

Young adults struggle so do their dogs

Among pet owners aged 18 to 34, 31% say they walk their dogs no more than an hour a day, and 23% report their pets are overweight.

Young owners also experience higher levels of stress: 42% see themselves as stressed, and 24% believe that stress affects their dogs. Staff at Hundstallet, a dog shelter that rehomes animals, say the survey aligns with what they see every day.

– People are increasingly unwell, and it has a direct impact on animals. We see a clear rise in dogs arriving in both poor physical and mental condition — often depressed, lacking proper veterinary care or stimulation, says Johnny Kroneld, Head of Communications & Fundraising at Hundstallet.

Use of obesity drugs surges in Finland

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Sales of obesity medication have skyrocketed in Finland in just a few years.
1 minute read

The use of obesity medication increased significantly in Finland last year – many more Finns were treated for obesity compared to 2023. At the same time, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of the treatment.

A total of 75,000 Finns used medicines for weight loss or obesity treatment in 2024. This is an increase of 20% compared to 2023, according to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). In five years, the number of users has increased more than elevenfold.

Semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is the most popular. Originally designed as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this type of medicine is not reimbursed if it is used for obesity alone. This means that Finns have to foot the bill themselves, which can be over €260 each month.

It is also unclear how effective this type of weight loss medication really is, but Pia Pajunen, an expert physician at Kela, says it is not a quick fix for losing weight.

If you stop using the obesity medication, the weight often starts to increase again quickly. It’s important that both doctors and patients are aware that research shows these medications generally need to be used long-term, she says in a press release.

Good fitness may prevent dementia

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
1 minute read

People at risk of dementia can reduce their risk by improving their fitness, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet. The study shows that the risk can be reduced by up to 35%.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers used data from 61,214 dementia-free people, drawn from the UK Biobank database. The participants, who were aged between 39 and 70, were followed over a period of 12 years.

On enrollment, participants completed a six-minute cycle test to measure fitness, and neurological tests were done to estimate their cognitive function. The researchers also examined genetic predisposition to dementia.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 553 people were diagnosed with dementia, representing 0.9%.

The results show that better fitness is linked to reduced dementia risk and improved cognitive function. According to Weili Xu, Professor of Geriatric Epidemiology in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, good fitness can reduce the risk of all forms of dementia by up to 35%.

– Our findings suggest that maintaining good fitness may be a strategy for preventing dementia, even among people with high genetic susceptibility, she says in a press release.

The researchers also emphasize that this is an observational study, so it is not possible to determine cause and effect. The number of dementia cases may also have been underestimated, they add, as UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
Consider a donation.

You can donate any amount of your choosing, one-time payment or even monthly.
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Dont miss another article!

Sign up for our newsletter today!

Take part of uncensored news – free from industry interests and political correctness from the Polaris of Enlightenment – every week.