Dishes like jerk chicken, mild curry, and gumbo are great if you’re trying to expand your culinary horizons. Spicy mustard is a great way to inject some mild spice into a dish. For a quick dash of heat, try some spicy Mexican or Indian candy. If you’re scouting out new hot sauces, look for labels with “mild” printed on it. If they list the Scoville units (the unit of measurement for spice), look for something around 450 SHU. [3] X Research source
The chemical responsible for the heat in spicy food is called capsaicin. [6] X Research source The same way that your body builds a tolerance to things like alcohol and caffeine, it can build a tolerance to capsaicin.
Once you’re ready for the really spicy peppers, look for habanero, Scotch bonnet, or ghost peppers. [9] X Research source
A dollop of sour cream can also help if you’re eating some spicy chili or tacos. [11] X Research source Skim milk is just as good as whole milk when it comes to taming the heat. [12] X Research source
Alcohol may help dissolve some of the capsaicin, but people report mixed results with this solution. [15] X Research source Acidic ingredients will also help cut through the spice and cool you off. If your tacos come with a few lime wedges or your spicy pasta has optional cilantro, add it to your dish. [16] X Research source
Something crunchy and acidic, like a cherry tomato, may help as well. Sweeter foods may work to curb the heat. A sugar cube may take the edge off, although some people report that this doesn’t help very much. [18] X Research source
Spicy Indian and Chinese food comes with rice for a reason—the texture and starch can dramatically cut back on your heat.
This can also help on a psychological level. If you’re really in pain, picture yourself literally blowing the pepper flakes into the air. The visualization may help take the edge off.
Something like cheesecake is a great option if you’re trying to hit all of your marks. It’s got plenty of saturated fat, some starch, and a large dose of dairy.
Don’t overdo it with the antacids. Taking too many can mess with the way your stomach produces acids. It’s fine to take an antacid as a preemptive measure every now and then, but don’t start popping them every day if you’re spending a month in Thailand or something like that. [24] X Research source
While it may be rough on your stomach if you have a preexisting condition, like IBS, you aren’t in any serious danger if you’ve eaten something spicy. If you’re freaking out a bit right now, just take a deep breath. You’ll feel better soon. [26] X Research source
