Spicy Stuff.mov Apr 2026

Cold water. It only spreads the oily capsaicin around your mouth, often making the burn worse.

The heat in spicy foods comes from , an oily compound that binds to TRPV1 receptors in the mouth and throat.

Starches like bread, rice, or potatoes can help soak up the oily capsaicin and physically block receptors. Spicy Stuff.MOV

Watch these videos to see the science of spice in action and how the pros handle the world's hottest food challenges:

Capsaicin doesn't actually burn your skin or mouth; it tricks your brain into thinking they are on fire. Cold water

Heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). For context, a jalapeño is roughly 2,500–8,000 SHU, while a Carolina Reaper can exceed 2 million SHU.

People have different tolerances based on their genetics (number of receptors) and how much they have "trained" their palate. 🥛 How to Stop the Heat Starches like bread, rice, or potatoes can help

Dairy products like milk or ice cream contain casein , a protein that breaks down capsaicin.