Happy Monday 👋 

Every week, I go deep into the roots of health in search of the best ingredients to prepare a delicious and nutritious menu for you!

On today’s menu I’ve got: Bed Bugs

Enjoy!

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Starter 🥗 

A Real Nightmare

Imagine you lay down after a long day in the Peruvian jungle, ready to sink into a deep, sweaty sleep. 💤

But somewhere beneath the sheets, an uninvited guest is wide awake, ready to destroy your night. Sneaky, silent, and nearly invisible to the eye. 🔍️

Bed bugs don’t just invade your space - they invade your peace of mind and bit me all over the body… These little fuckers!!!

They don’t care how clean your home is, how expensive your mattress might be, or how much you value a good night’s sleep.

If they show up, they’re staying for dinner - and the main course is YOU. 🍽️

As tiny hitchhikers, they have been around for centuries, quietly creeping into beds, hotels, schools, offices, and even public transportation.

But how do they spread, and more importantly, how do you get rid of them? 

Let’s pull back the covers and find out. 🛏️

Main 🥙 

The Bad Bug

Bed bugs have been around for centuries, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians 3,500 years ago.📜 

These tiny monsters, also known as Cimex lectularius, are brownish parasites - feeding on blood, causing itchy bites, and generally irritating their human hosts.

Because of their size of an apple seed (5-7 mm) and their preferred habitat in dark spots of sofas, bed mattresses, garments, and other soft furnishings, they are difficult to find. 🔎 

Sneaky and resilient, nymphs and adults can crawl quickly across floors, walls, ceilings, and other surfaces, able to go many months without feeding. 🩸 

Without waking you, these tiny bloodsuckers feed on you.

They inject a numbing agent and an anticoagulant into your bloodstream to keep your blood flowing while they suck, so you don't feel their bite.

Only the next morning will you notice itchy, red, and raised bites on your skin. 🏻 

Their bites normally do not require treatment. If a secondary infection occurs (typically from scratching), apply a local antiseptic lotion, antibiotic cream, or ointment. 🧴

In more severe cases, you may need to consult your doctor.

The real problem lies in the eggs!

Adult females lay sticky eggs in hidden areas, usually one, two, or more per day. These eggs are roughly the size of a dust speck (1 mm) and hatch in about a week at room temperature. 🌡️ 

That sounds awful, doesn't it?

Given that, how do you get rid of them? 🤔 

Dessert 🍰 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can be difficult to find and identify, given their small size and their habit of staying hidden in the dark.

If you’ve spotted these unwelcome guests, don’t panic! 😰 

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to respectfully kick them out:

1. Wash all bedding in hot water (60°C/140°F) and dry on high heat.

2. Wash all clothing in hot water ( 45°C/113°F) for at least 2 hours and dry on medium-high heat.

3. Vacuum thoroughly, including your mattress, bed frame, carpets, and furniture.

4. Use hot steam or freezing temperatures to kill bed bugs on fabrics and small items.

5. Seal cracks and crevices in walls, bed frames, and furniture to eliminate hiding spots.

6. Encase your mattress and pillows in bed bug-proof covers.

7. Declutter your space to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.

8. Place bed bug traps under bed legs to catch them before they reach you.

9. Use natural remedies like diatomaceous earth, eucalyptus oil, or tea tree oil to repel bed bugs.

Bonus tip: Pack up infested items in black bags and leave them outside on a hot day or in a closed car for at least 120 minutes. ☀️