If you’re like me and want to try spicy foods but have difficulty tolerating them, you need a strategy to help deal with it. And if you’re also like me, you have a tendency to eat spicy food quickly when you can’t deal with it which isn’t necessarily good for digestion.
You have some options to consider when eating spicy food that might bring a bit more heat that you can tolerate.
When eating spicy food, there are a few things that a person can do to help alleviate any discomfort or symptoms they may be experiencing:
- Drink milk: Milk contains casein, which helps to neutralize the capsaicin in spicy food, which is the compound responsible for the heat. Other dairy products, such as yogurt or cheese, can also have a similar effect.
You could also try a yogurt drink such as Aryan which is plain yogurt with some water and salt added for taste. So you basically turn plain yogurt into a drink that you can consume while eating spicy food. Sip it while eating spicy food to help deal with the heat. - Eat something sweet: Eating something sweet, such as sugar or honey, can help to counteract the heat from the spicy food. Sugar can help deal with spicy food by providing a temporary relief from the burning sensation in your mouth. When you eat spicy food, capsaicin, the active compound responsible for the heat, binds to receptors on your tongue and mouth, triggering a burning sensation. Sugar can help counteract this sensation by binding to the same receptors, which can provide a brief relief from the heat.
Additionally, sugar can help to neutralize some of the acidity that can be present in spicy food. Spicy food is often acidic, which can contribute to the burning sensation. The sweetness of sugar can help to counteract this acidity and provide a mild relief. - Drink water: This is probably your goto drink, right? Drinking water can help to wash away the spicy residue in your mouth and throat, but keep in mind that it may not help to alleviate the burning sensation. Water can actually spread the capsaicin around your mouth, making the burning sensation worse. This is because capsaicin is not soluble in water, which means that it can continue to bind to your taste receptors and spread to other parts of your mouth when you drink water.
At worst, you’ll at least remain hydrated as you eat spicy food although you may or may not actually receive relief from the spiciness of a food dish. - Eat something bland: Eating something bland, such as bread or rice, can help to absorb the spiciness in your mouth and ease any discomfort. Starchy foods can help deal with spicy foods in a few ways. When you eat starchy foods such as rice, bread, or potatoes, the starch molecules in the food can help to absorb the capsaicin, the active compound that makes spicy food hot, and reduce its contact with your tongue and mouth.
Starchy foods can also help to dilute the spiciness in your mouth, which can provide some relief from the burning sensation. The blandness of starchy foods can also help to counteract the spiciness in your mouth and provide a mild relief.
Furthermore, starchy foods can help to provide a physical barrier between your tongue and the capsaicin, preventing it from continuing to stimulate the receptors in your mouth. This can provide a temporary relief from the burning sensation and give your taste buds a chance to recover. - Avoid acidic foods or drinks: Foods and drinks that are acidic, such as citrus fruits or carbonated beverages, can make the burning sensation worse. Acidic drinks or drinks with carbonation like soda won’t really help you deal with spicy foods, certainly not compared to other ones.
As mentioned above you’re better off drinking a milk-based beverage or other drink with casein. - Take a break: Sometimes the best thing to do is simply take a break and wait for the heat to subside on its own. This can take a few minutes or longer depending on the individual and the spiciness of the food.
And speaking of time, you might also find that as you consume more spicy foods in general, that you are better able to deal with it over time. While you might simply figure out how to deal with spicy food as you gain experience doing so, you might also find that you build up a certain tolerance level of sorts, too.
Final thoughts
The truth is that people are affected by spicy foods in different ways. While some people can tolerate very spicy foods, others have difficulty doing so. The way you deal with spicy food can in part be based on how big a deal it is for you personally. And over time you might be able to better tolerate spices, too.
I also wrote a slightly different take on handling spicy foods that discusses what makes foods spicy in the first place and how to neutralize it. Click here to read that now.
In general, it’s important to listen to your body and take things slow if you’re sensitive to spicy food. If you experience any severe symptoms or discomfort, it’s always best to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.