Table of contents:
- Why does eating spicy make your tongue numb and tingling?
- Then how to deal with a tingling and numb tongue after eating spicy food?
You like eating spicy? There are some people who like to eat spicy food because they are challenged by the "explosive" taste in the mouth. In fact, the sensation of heat, burning tongue, tingling, and numbness are what those who like spicy food are looking for. So what actually causes a tingling tongue after eating spicy food? Here is the explanation.
Why does eating spicy make your tongue numb and tingling?
If you like spicy food, maybe you will feel your tongue taste tingling, numb, can not taste the taste. Especially if you eat large amounts of spicy food. This is actually caused by the capsaicin in chilies.
This capsaicin substance causes you to feel a spicy taste in your food. The sensation of heat and pain that capsaicin initially causes when it enters the mouth is considered a hot taste.
The tongue has nerves that receive all stimuli - in the form of taste - which then sends a signal to the brain to tell what taste is feeling at that moment. When it receives salty, sweet, bitter, and sour food, the tongue has a special ability to perceive these tastes.
However, when you eat spicy food, it doesn't take long before the nerves will send two messages to the brain, namely "this is sickness stimulation" and "this is heat stimulation". When you eat large amounts of spicy food, there will be more signals sent to the brain. So, the brain will conclude that the tongue is in pain and overheating, eventually a tingling and numb feeling appears on the tongue.
Then how to deal with a tingling and numb tongue after eating spicy food?
Some ways that can help you from burning, numbness, and tingling sensation on the tongue caused by eating spicy:
- Drinking a glass of milk has been shown to overcome the pain you feel after eating spicy food. According to the American Chemical Society, the proteins present in milk can reduce the stimulation of pain that the tongue nerves receive.
- Take a teaspoon of sugar. Of course, sweet foods can help get rid of the spicy taste that you feel. Sugar can absorb and neutralize the spicy taste of the capsaicin in chilies. But, remember your sugar ration in a day has been reduced because of consuming one teaspoon of sugar and don't consume too much sugar.
- A piece of chocolate is just not good for mood You, but also able to deal with a numb tongue. The fat content in chocolate will make capsaicin dissolve easily, so that the stimulation received by the tongue nerves is reduced.
- You need a piece of bread if you want to free your tongue from the numbness and tingling sensation of eating spicy food. Just like chocolate works, bread is great for absorbing capsaicin and making the tongue less burnt.
