This is more just out of curiosity then anything. I just wondered could eating ice or somehow making you mouth colder before eating spicy foods, such as chill peppers or such, help lessen the spiciness?
1 Answer
No.
The chemical action of capsaicin (the compound that triggers the burning sensation) is an effect on chemical receptors in your taste buds. It's perceived to a degree as temperature but it's entirely independent, so making your mouth colder wouldn't help.
The only way cold would minimize a spice burn is if you made your tongue/mouth cold enough to freeze, numb, and damage your taste buds, which would be a really bad idea.
Ice won't really help relieve the burn after you start feeling the spice either, because capsaicin isn't water-soluble. Here are some better suggestions for relief.