Do you enjoy spicy food or do you abhor it? Regardless of how you feel about spicy fare, you might have wondered just what it is that causes that heat and pain when you have something that is particularly spicy. It all happens because of the capsaicin in peppers. This is the chemical that causes the spice. It is found in chili peppers, cayenne peppers, jalapeños, habaneros, and others.
Measuring the Heat
The amount of capsaicin in the peppers will determine just how hot they are. This is all measured on the Scoville Scale, which utilizes units of measurement called Scoville Heat Units. The higher the number the hotter the pepper. To give you an idea of how hot different peppers are, check out these numbers.
- Pepperoncini – Between 100 and 500 SHU
- Poblano – Between 1,000 and 1,500 SHU
- Jalapeno – Between 2,500 and 8,000 SHU
- Tabasco – Between 30,000 and 50,000 SHU
- Cayenne – Between 30,000 and 50,000 SHU
- Thai Peppers – Between 50,000 and 100,000 SHU
- Habanero – Between 100,000 and 350,000 SHU
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion – 2,000,000 SHU
As you can see, there is quite a difference between the mild peppers and the ones that cause a sensation that feels like a five-alarm fire in your mouth. The seeds do not contain capsaicin, even though many people mistakenly believe the heat is in the seeds. Most of the capsaicin is in the white membranes on the inside of the pepper. The remainder is in the pepper flesh.
Do Bell Peppers Have Capsaicin?
Even though bell peppers might be in the capsicum family, they do not actually have capsicum in them. This means they will register zero on the Scoville Scale, which is why you do not feel any pain or heat when you eat them.
How to Neutralize the Capsaicin in Peppers
As much as the capsaicin can benefit you, sometimes the heat and the pain can get to be a bit too much. You might need to have a way to neutralize the heat for yourself, or for someone else who is just starting to try spicy foods with peppers or hot sauce. Do not make the mistake of using water to help with the pain, as this will not do anything for you. You need to have some type of dairy available. Milk is a great option, but it is not the only option available. You could also choose to use cheese or sour cream if you have it available. Even ice cream can work.
Alcohol can work to help dissipate the heat as well, but it is nowhere near as effective as milk. If you are in a pinch, you could also use olive oil or vegetable oil, as they can provide you with the same types of benefits when it comes to keeping your mouth and tongue safe from the burn.
Capsaicin in peppers provides the heat, but it also provides some great benefits. It can help people to burn fat, and it can help with inflammation, pain relief, and more.