Got Milk?

People love spicy food, although it can cause some serious side effects. Be it while preparing (crying after cutting a hot pepper and touching your face), eating (mouth on fire) or in the stomach (indigestion). So how to go about that?
First we need to understand how peppers work. The fiery ingredient in chilies is capsaicin. The more capsaicin in a chili, the spicier it tastes and feels. The more you need to know how to counter the heat!

Cutting to the chase, the best solution to cool your mouth is milk! Skimmed or whole milk, as long as it’s animal milk and not almond milk, oat milk or the likes. The trick is that animal milk contains a protein called casein, which can break down capsaicin. That’s why milk is better to calm the heat than for example water.
Milk can even be used for your eyes too. You may have seen people in protests using milk after they have been pepper sprayed. That’s because capsaicin is the main ingredient in pepper spray, and milk can break it down.

However, if you have an upset stomach, then milk may not be a good idea! Acid reflux, roiling stomach or ulcers can get worse, because it can stimulate acid and can be difficult to digest. Many people are also lactose intolerant, and can suffer cramps, gas, bloating or diarrhea. So for an upset stomach after spicy food it’s better to take a calcium carbonate antacid to neutralize your stomach acid and stop the burn.

It might be a good idea to avoid spicy food altogether, but if you can’t here are some further tips on preparing spicy food: You can wear gloves when cutting the chilies and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Another tip is to wear goggles, to ensure nothing comes near your eyes.

And always keep some milk nearby!