So you were a bit too cocky and used extra-hot buffalo sauce on your wings, too many jalapenos on your nachos, or much too much cayenne pepper when preparing supper. Or maybe you had no clue those peanuts were going to be hot in the first place.
When it comes to spicy dishes, we've probably all bit off more than we could chew at least once, whether intentionally or not.
So, what can you do to assist your lips to calm down after eating hot food? Or was it the first taste that sealed your fate?
Understanding the science underlying the burn may help you understand what to seek for (and what to avoid) as soon as the fire in your mouth appears.
What happens to your body when you eating spicy food
You already know that when your mouth seems to be on fire, it isn't. It simply seems that that. But why is that?
While the two may seem unconnected, the burning feeling you get when you consume anything spicy is identical to the scorching agony you get when you touch a hot pan by mistake. Temperature-sensitive pain receptors are activated in response to each, shouting to your brain, "This is HOT!"
When your brain detects that your skin or mouth is in danger, it sends pain signals to try to persuade you to quit doing whatever it is you're doing.
This discomfort serves a vital function in the instance of the hot pan: it prompts you to withdraw your hand before it burns.
The answer is less evident in the instance of hot pepper that isn't even genuinely hot.
Capsaicin, an alkaline, oil-based molecule found in hot peppers, secretly stimulates the temperature-sensitive pain receptors in your tongue, despite the fact that the molecule doesn't create heat or inflict any actual harm (unless you really overdo it).
When capsaicin activates these pain receptors, your brain is fooled into believing your mouth is in danger, resulting in the searing sensation that encourages you to quit eating whatever spicy food you're eating.
However, your mouth's pain receptors may adapt to capsaicin's deception. These temperature-sensitive receptors are more likely to become desensitized to capsaicin if they are overstimulated by eating spicy food often. This is why those who consume spicy food on a regular basis are able to cope with it better than those who don't - the "burning pain" is less intense for them.
For people who don't consume spicy food often, the scorching feeling is either too strong and they quit eating it completely, or they attempt to reduce the burn by grabbing for anything that they believe would help cool their tongue down.
What can you do to keep your lips cool after eating hot food?
So you ate the hot wings, and now you're frantically browsing the internet for a spicy food hack - practically anything to quell the fire in your mouth and prevent you from sweating bullets.
With your newfound understanding of capsaicin science, here are some dos and don'ts for cooling down your tongue after eating hot food:
Is it true that milk-based goods might help you calm down your lips after eating hot food?
Don't forget to include some dairy in your diet. Casein, a protein found in many milk-based products, may aid in the breakdown of capsaicin tricksters. Consider casein to be a detergent, attracting, surrounding, and assisting in the removal of the oil-based capsaicin molecules floating about your mouth, much as soap does with grease. The catch is that the dairy product you chose must include casein in order for your tongue to calm down. Cow's milk (not almond, coconut, or soy milk), yogurt, cottage cheese, or sour cream are good examples of casein-containing milk products.
Can acidic meals or beverages assist to relieve the burning sensation in your mouth after eating spicy food?
DO consume an acidic beverage. Don't worry if you can't or don't want to eat dairy. You have another option: acid. Capsaicin is an alkaline molecule, as we already said. The activity of the molecule may be neutralized by balancing it with an acid. This implies that anything acidic, such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice, or a tomato-based meal or drink, may assist to cool your lips down. (Milk, by the way, is acidic.)
Is it true that carbohydrates might help you calm down your tongue after eating hot food?
EAT A LOT OF CARBS. Starches are filling for a variety of reasons, one of which is that they usually have a large physical volume. When eating spicy meals, the volume provided by a starchy dish may function as a physical barrier between the capsaicin and your mouth, which can be beneficial. Try eating a slice of bread, rice, or a tortilla to place some carbohydrate between this deceptive chemical and your pain receptors.
Is water a good way to cool down your tongue after eating hot food?
DON'T BELIEVE THAT A GLASS OF WATER WILL SAVE YOU. If you remember nothing else, remember this: Because capsaicin is an oil-based chemical, drinking water will just distribute it throughout your lips, activating even more pain receptors. Oops! Instead of a glass of water, consider one of the choices above to help cool your mouth down.
Is it true that a glass of wine might help you forget about the ache in your mouth after eating spicy food?
ALCOHOL WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE PAIN. You've seen old war movies, right? One soldier disinfects an open wound by pouring alcohol on it before sealing it. The injured soldier then chugs the flask's remaining contents. For a long time, people have relied on alcohol to relieve pain. However, keep in mind that the quantity of alcohol required to successfully alleviate pain surpasses the standards for moderate alcohol consumption. Furthermore, many alcoholic drinks include more water than alcohol, and, well...see above.
Maybe you won't need to hold back on the jalapenos and cayenne pepper as much now that you know the dos and don'ts of cooling your tongue down after eating spicy cuisine.
