Ever eaten something too spicy? Research shows milk is the top choice to ease the burn. Capsaicin, the active compound in chili peppers, triggers that intense warming and burning sensation by irritating your mouth.
In a study involving 72 participants—42 women and 30 men—researchers tested five common drinks. Participants first sipped a spicy Bloody Mary mix containing capsaicin and rated the initial burn intensity.
They then tried purified water, cola, Kool-Aid, seltzer water, non-alcoholic beer, skim milk, and cherry-flavored whole milk in separate trials, rating the burn every 10 seconds for two minutes. Eight trials were conducted: seven with test drinks and one without.
The initial burn from the mix averaged below "strong" but above "moderate," fading to just above "weak" over two minutes. All drinks reduced the burn significantly, with whole milk, skim milk, and Kool-Aid delivering the greatest relief.
Afterward, participants answered: “How often do you consume spicy foods?” and “Do you like spicy food?” Researchers found no link between spicy food habits and burn perception.
