Drinking water after spicy food: do it or not?

You’re enjoying a plate full of spicy food, your mouth is on fire and your first instinct is to reach for a glass of water. But is that a good idea? Let’s dive deeper into this pressing issue.

Why you reach for water when your mouth is on fire

It’s a natural reaction: your mouth is on fire, so you want to put it out. Water seems the most logical choice. After all, it is available everywhere and you always have it at hand. But here’s the twist: water can actually make the burning sensation worse. Yes, you read that right.

Drink water after spicy food? Bad idea!

The culprit in spicy food is capsaicin, a substance that binds to the pain receptors in your mouth. Water and capsaicin are like oil and water—they don’t mix. So when you drink water, you’re actually just spreading the capsaicin further in your mouth. Result: more fire, less extinguishing. In short, bad idea.

So what works?

So, what should you drink or eat to reduce that burning sensation? Here are a few tips:

Milk: The fats in milk help to neutralize the capsaicin.
Yogurt: Like milk, yogurt contains fats that can reduce the spiciness. This actually applies to dairy in general.
Rice or bread: These carbohydrates absorb the capsaicin and help remove it from your mouth.

So, the next time your mouth is on fire after a spicy meal, think twice before reaching for that glass of water. Instead, try one of the solutions mentioned above and see what works best for you. Because let’s face it, a little spice in your life never hurts, as long as you know how to put it out. Another thing you can do is just get better at eating spicy food. Then you are also less likely to suffer from a burning mouth.