Why you shouldn’t drink water with spicy food?

The alkaloid capsaicin gives capsicum its burning flavor. Once it enters the body, it acts on receptors that are responsible for the sensation of heat and pain. They are activated when you drink too hot tea or eat something too spicy. What to do then? How to get rid of burning in the mouth?

Answered by a dietitian, nutritionist

You can drink water, of course, but it won’t make any sense. That’s because the alkaloid capsaicin gives capsicum its burning taste. Once it enters the body, it acts on the TRPV1 receptors, which are responsible for the sensation of heat and pain. They are activated when you drink too hot tea or eat something too spicy.

The receptors send a signal to the brain that you are eating something harmful to the body, and the brain reacts immediately. If the dish contains a lot of pepper, your eyes water, your nose becomes stuffy, you feel a burning sensation and want to drink to get rid of the discomfort. This is how the body tries to displace the unwanted substance and neutralize it. However, capsaicin does not dissolve in water, but only “smears” in the oral cavity and further down the esophagus, which makes the unpleasant sensation worse.

So how do you put out a fire? There are several ways.

First, the effect of capsaicin is inhibited by fatty dairy products such as milk, kefir, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. The protein casein removes capsaicin from nerve endings, and the burning sensation goes away. Moreover, if you have to choose between a glass of milk and cold kefir with 3-4% fat, I recommend the latter. Fat and acid dissolve the alkaloid and soothe irritated receptors, having an enveloping effect. If you don’t want kefir, you can eat creamy ice cream. It will also help.

Secondly, other foods that contain a large amount of fat have a similar effect. Therefore, you can eat a little vegetable oil or a few pieces of chocolate, preferably milk chocolate, as it contains both fat and casein.

Thirdly, capsaicin dissolves perfectly in ethyl alcohol. So, a couple of sips of wine or another alcoholic beverage will also relieve the burning sensation. Beer is an exception, as the hops contained in it increase the pungency.

Fourth, an ordinary piece of bread or a potato dish can help. Starch absorbs capsaicin, acting like activated carbon. That’s why rice is the basis of Asian dishes full of spicy spices.

But you can get used to pepper. All you need to do is add it to your diet, gradually increasing the dose. The main thing is not to go to extremes and not to forget that the spiciness can be different. Anyone who tastes Atomic Kick Ass sauce may experience cramps, internal bleeding, and paralysis of the facial muscles, which will last about half an hour. Therefore, before tasting it, a restaurant visitor is required to sign a special paper that releases the establishment from liability for possible consequences.