what is it in milk that stops your mouth burning from spicy foods?

Question

Drinking milk after eating chilli or curry etc makes your mouth hurt less. But why? And are there any dairy free alternatives that do the same?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

For a non-dairy alternative, you can try crunchy peanut butter. The texture can help distract the nerves that are feeling the burning sensation, and the oils can dissolve and wash away the capsaicin.