Why doesn't cold water help after eating very hot and spicy foods?

Matthew_07

The spices in most of the hot foods that we eat are oily, and, like your elementary school science teacher taught you, oil and water don't mix. In this case, the water just rolls over the oily spices. What can you do to calm your aching tongue Eat bread. The bread will absorb the oily spices. A second solution is to drink milk. Milk contains a substance called "casein" which will bind to the spices and carry them away. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090419062047AAb3vT4 Jul 09 10, 7:46 AM

star_gazer

So what does work? Logic would suggest two approaches: dilutants (more oil) and solvents (such as alcohol). Best dilutant I know of is milk, which generally works like a charm. If that's not macho enough for you, you can try an alcoholic beverage appropriate to the occasion. A shot of tequila, for instance, in a Mexican restaurant. Then again, you may feel that the cure is worse than the disease. Some people swear by bread or, better yet, a flour tortilla. These sop up the oil and carry it away. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/310/why-water-wont-help-after-eating-spicy-hot-food Jul 09 10, 8:01 AM