Surviving Spicy Foods
If you just took a bite of something wildly spicy, here are suggestions for putting out the fire in your mouth:
*Dairy products like milk, cheese, sour cream and yogurt coat your mouth and throat to dilute the chilie's heat.
*Citrus fruits can counteract the spice as well.
* Sugar cools the burn, which explains why a margarita is such a popular Mexican drink!
Don't grab a big glass of water, though. Water just spreads the capsaicin in peppers and fizzy drinks only make things worse. Beer is the exception—the alcohol works to help you.
Published 01/04/10
