Drinking milk and Coca-Cola after eating spicy food does actually help, so get chugging
Whenever you eat something that you realise too late is far, far too spicy, someone will snatch the water from your hands and say what you really need is milk.
Turns out thats not just an old wives tale, as milk really does take the pain out of excess spice levels.
Oh, and so does Coca Cola, so if youre not a dairy fan you have another beverage option.
What you definitely shouldnt down in the midst of a spice panic is a pint, as new research says any booze will make the pain of extra hot food feel even worse.
Researchers from Penn State University tested out seven drinks to find out which were best and worst at soothing the pain of spice.
72 participants were made to drink an extra spicy Bloody Mary, and then had to chug different drinks to see which helped the most: water, cola, cherry-flavored Kool-Aid, carbonated water, beer, skimmed milk or whole milk.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The best drink to soothe the pain was found to be whole milk, followed by Kool-Aid, then skimmed milk, then Coca-Cola, with water and sparkling water not providing much help at all.
More: Food
Researchers say milk works so well thanks to the protein casein, which overpowers capsaicin, the compound that causes a fiery kick.
Sugary drinks work because capsaicin can be overwhelmed with sweetness. Makes sense.
Fizzy drinks such as sparkling water didnt do well, and neither did beer or anything else alcoholic. Researchers say this is because ethanol amplifies the sensation of heat.
So next time you head to a curry house, bring some milk, ask for a coke, and ditch the beer. Youll be grateful you did.
MORE: Read More – Source
