Have you ever reached for water when eating spicy food only to feel like your mouth is on fire? That's because water only increases the burning sensation in your mouth and lips. So what should you reach for instead? This nifty infographic from Greatist provides some helpful answers.
First off, the reason water won't douse the fire in your mouth is because it doesn't soak up or dissolve capsaicin, the chemical compound responsible for the burn. The same holds true for beer and soda.
Instead, stick to dairy (milk and yogurt are great options), olive oil, peanut butter and white rice. All of these foods help break down capsaicin so you get relief much sooner than if you down a beer.
Take a look at the whole range of foods that are helpful for combating a spicy mouth:
by greatist.
