Anyone who has eaten spicy food will have experienced 'chilli burn'.
This article will attempt to try and explain how the burn can be prevented and should that fail how to cure the after effects.
Many people believe that the burning sensation that chillies give us is part of the reason why they are considered mildly addictive.
Maybe it is the pain/pleasure thing that releases the seratonines in our brains that ensures people keep coming back for more chillies.
In fact it is the same chemical (seratonine) that chillies release in our brains that also causes the "high" that many illegal drugs give! Apart from the obvious burning in the mouth, many people suffer more serious discomfort when after cutting or preparing chillies, they rub their eye or scratch an itch.
By doing this they spread the Capsaicin (the chemical that gives chillies their heat) from their hands to a more sensitive area such as their eyes or somewhere more private! Surprisingly just water alone may not cure the problem.
INstead try some lemon juice.
This is alleged to work because the capsaicin is alkaline.
By adding lemon juice you are increasing the ph and hence neutralising the burn.
In addition try putting a cold pack onto the affected area to provide some relief.
That said one of the best ways is to prevent the burn in the first place.
A great tip is prior to handing chillies to wear protective gloves.
If you don't have any to hand try rubbing your hands in olive oil before hand.
Due to the chemical structure the capsaicin has trouble sticking to the oily hands so any potential burn may be reduced.
If the burn on your tongue is too great you natural reaction is to reach for a glass of water or even a beer.
However this is not going to help.
Instead you should follow the example of a nation that eats more chillies than most..
..
India.
In India most meals are accompanied with a raita - a natural yogurt based dish which usually consists of just yogurt, cucumber and maybe some mild spices.
A few spoonfuls of natural yogurt, or any other dairy product such as milk will be much more effective than water.
This article will attempt to try and explain how the burn can be prevented and should that fail how to cure the after effects.
Many people believe that the burning sensation that chillies give us is part of the reason why they are considered mildly addictive.
Maybe it is the pain/pleasure thing that releases the seratonines in our brains that ensures people keep coming back for more chillies.
In fact it is the same chemical (seratonine) that chillies release in our brains that also causes the "high" that many illegal drugs give! Apart from the obvious burning in the mouth, many people suffer more serious discomfort when after cutting or preparing chillies, they rub their eye or scratch an itch.
By doing this they spread the Capsaicin (the chemical that gives chillies their heat) from their hands to a more sensitive area such as their eyes or somewhere more private! Surprisingly just water alone may not cure the problem.
INstead try some lemon juice.
This is alleged to work because the capsaicin is alkaline.
By adding lemon juice you are increasing the ph and hence neutralising the burn.
In addition try putting a cold pack onto the affected area to provide some relief.
That said one of the best ways is to prevent the burn in the first place.
A great tip is prior to handing chillies to wear protective gloves.
If you don't have any to hand try rubbing your hands in olive oil before hand.
Due to the chemical structure the capsaicin has trouble sticking to the oily hands so any potential burn may be reduced.
If the burn on your tongue is too great you natural reaction is to reach for a glass of water or even a beer.
However this is not going to help.
Instead you should follow the example of a nation that eats more chillies than most..
..
India.
In India most meals are accompanied with a raita - a natural yogurt based dish which usually consists of just yogurt, cucumber and maybe some mild spices.
A few spoonfuls of natural yogurt, or any other dairy product such as milk will be much more effective than water.