911 - Putting Out The Fire!
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If you are totally burned out from eating too much hot food here are a few
remedies that may help the heat subside quicker. Always remember that capsaicin (the
substance that make peppers hot) is only slightly soluble in water, therefore it is not
very effective at quenching the heat. It is very soluble however in oils and alcohols.
Remedies
- A cup of whole milk rinsed well in mouth. This is one of the quickest and best remedies.
- Other dairy products such as sour cream, yogurt, or ice cream. The lower fat products do
not work as well because the fat content in these is what the capsaicin binds to.
- Starchy foods such as bread and potatoes work well to slough, not dissolve, the
capsaicin away.
- White rice works for Chinese people. Uses same mechanism as bread and potatoes.
- Beer works in two ways: A) The alcohol content in the beer dissolves the capsaicin. B)
Drink enough beer and you wont care how hot your mouth is anyway!
Were partial to #5
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