Hot and spicy foods!!!!?

Question

How come when you eat something spicy and you get that feeling like you can breathe fire, why does drink cold water do nothing but hot water stops it? I guess it makes the saying, "fight fire with fire" is true.

Answer 1

The heat in spicy foods is caused by capsaicin. It is a phenolic amide that is oily in nature. Hot water cuts oil better than cold water. Water physically removes the capsaicin. Sugar will also cut the heat of the capsaicin by reacting chemically with it to form a less irritating material.

As an aside, it is possible to become mildly addicted to capsaicin in the same way that a runner can become addicted to running. In both cases the activity of either running or consuming capsaicin containing foods causes your body to produce endorphins. Endorphins are responsible for the "high" that runners and consumers of capsaicin get.

Answer 2

The spiciness in hot foods come mainly from the oils found in various peppers. As we all know, oil and water don't mix. Thus, you won't find relief if you drink water.

The best way to fight spicy food is to try and dilute the oil with another oil-based drink (like milk, which has fat), or use a solvent such as alcohol. This is why a lot of people drink beer or alcoholic beverages when eating spicy food.

Answer 3

Milk and other fatty foods/beverages are one way of getting rid of the burn.

Another way is to take some bread and press it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue -- the bread absorbs the capsaicin oils and removes the burn. This is why you get pompadom (sp?) bread at an Indian restaurant.

Answer 4

I've heard that putting a pinch of salt on your tongue helps if you eat something really spicy! The trick doesn't work with wasabi though. lol...I learned this the hard way!

Answer 5

you should try milk next time. works better than water.

Answer 6

eating bread or crackers also works