HOT, HOT, HOT!
The Best Ways to Cool Your Mouth After Eating Something Spicy
When you pop something spicy into your mouth, it’s always good to have a cool beverage nearby. You never know when you’re going to need to put out a fire. But when your mouth feels like it’s going up in flames, some methods of cooling are better than others. Let’s get this out of the way first: Water and soda are two of the worst ways to cool off your mouth after eating something spicy. Water, soda, and even fruit juice will simply spread the heat around, meaning that fiery sensation will only last longer. To combat the heat, it’s important to understand where that sensation comes from. Many spicy sauces and dishes get their heat from capsaicinoids, or specifically, capsaicin, an oily compound that loves to stick to your tongue. It’s
important to note that capsaicin is not water-soluble.
And for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan, soy milk and peanut butter can help too. The higher the fat content, the better!
Chili peppers are a primary source of capsaicin. Other foods, such as mustard, radish, horseradish, and wasabi, get their heat from a compound called allyl isothiocyanate. This compound does not usually stick around as long as capsaicin.
What about those other foods, like mustard and
So, what can you do to beat the heat?
wasabi? Unlike capsaicin, allyl isothiocyanate is partially water-
For heat brought on by chili peppers, you want a beverage that contains compounds capable of binding with the oiliness of capsaicin. The best compound? Fat. Whole milk will help, but here are some even better alternatives:
soluble. This means water and soda will help cool you down — but you still can’t beat dairy. The next time you eat a habanero pepper or put too much hot sauce on your eggs, having a glass of half-and-half on standby can be a lifesaver. It may sound a little weird, but your mouth will thank you.
• Half-and-half • Yogurt • Kefir
• Sour cream • Ice cream
TESTIMONIAL
At KC Estate Works, we are dedicated to your estate, tax, and business succession plans. We’re here to help you achieve peace of mind by getting your affairs in order and minimizing the burden placed on your loved ones. That’s why every referral you send our way makes a difference. We get to help even more people. Thank you for your referrals, and thank you for placing your trust in us — not only to help you, but to help the people you care about. Your Referrals Make a Difference
“When my wife and I were still newlyweds, I asked my dad for a recommendation on estate planning considerations. He referred us to John Thompson, as John had done the estate planning for my folks. We first met with John a couple years ago and we were immediately happy with our decision. John was professional, kind, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and most importantly, he listened to us. It was reassuring to have someone who could relate to our stage in life and translate that to a well-thought-out will and power of attorney. We highly recommend John and look forward to continuing to work with him as our family grows.”
—Andrew Maher
2
www.kcestateworks.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online