Spicy food - not being able to drink

 Lately I really want spicy food. I crave buffalo chicken and spicy mustard and hot green salsa. BUT I am a wimp and ususally always drink a ton of water when I eat spicy food. But now I can't. Is there anything I can do to help this? Probably not. But I thought I would ask.

I love spicy, but to a degree.  On Saturday I ate something too spicy and about died.  I ate a tiny bite of bread and ended up taking a few small sips of water.  Then the pain started along with  hic-ups I get if I eat too fast.  It passed after about 15 minutes, but it was not good. 
I would just take it down a few notches in the hot level and see where you are OK to still get the flaovr, but not need the drink.

Sarah

True fact: water actually ENHANCES our perception of spices, making it among the worst things to drink with spicy food.  A better bet is milk which helps neutralize spices. A tidbit for if you're ever on Jeopardy.

But that being the case, drinking water with spicy food is sort of a psycho-somatic remedy in my opinion. We tell ourselves it helps with the spicyness so our brains go along with that story.

So all that is to say water doesn't do much in the face of spicy food and you don't really need it. But if you WANT it (because mental perception is a powerful thing), have a grape or strawberry at the end of your meal. Both have good water content in them to help wash down the flavor.

Your best bet is to periodically have a small amount of Greek yogurt to cleanse your palate.  In my pre-op days, when I would eat something at an Indian or Thai restaurant that was too spicy (and for me that is almost impossible), they would always bring me some yogurt concoction that would help me ease the burn in my mouth.

See? Milk based stuff! Yay for shared knowledge!

Jim...by the way...if I am ever in Jersey, I totally want to meet you. You seem like a cool person. I bet your whole family is a hoot to be around :)

Thank you Nik, coming from you, that is a great compliment, and trust me, the feeling is mutual.  If you are ever in Jersey, we will definitely get together.  My wife and I would love to meet you. 

Since my surgery I have become addicted to hot sauces, peppers, chiles, salsa's. whatever it is the hotter the better. my local asian market makes a spicy stewed tofu that is to die for:)

 I do the same as Jim.  I am Korean and lived on kimchi and spicy foods.  I can't do kimchi, but I have had some spicy salsa, etc.  I just use a bit of sour cream to cut the spiciness until I can drink. 

I have always eaten super spicy foods and also agree that milk based foods/drinks help the most.  If I am thirsty after eating a meal I chomp on a grape, bite of melon, etc. like Nic said.  It helps tons!

I love spicy food and eat it all the time.  When I need to, I take very small sips of water with it.  Sometimes it works well enough to eat something kind of cool with my spicy food.  Like have a little bit of salad with your buffalo chicken and take a bite of chicken, then a bite of salad.