For many diners, no meal is complete without spice. Some people, however, cannot tolerate the presence of heat—even if they wish that they could enjoy a fiery plate for lunch or dinner. If you want to try boosting your tolerance to spices, here are a few tips that might help make that next hot meal more palatable.

How to Boost Your Tolerance for Spice

1. Add Small Amounts

The key is to venture into spicy territory slowly. Don’t overwhelm your palate with a plate full of spicy foods right away. Dip your meats or vegetables in hot sauce, for example, or add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to your lunch or dinner. If you’re particularly averse to the heat, you can try adding a touch of hot sauce to a mild condiment, like ketchup. This will help your mouth acclimate.

2. Put the Spice on the Side

If you’re enjoying a dish loaded with noodles, chicken, and vegetables, you probably want to liven it up with a sauce or two. Although spice might be tempting in an abstract way, you might worry that it will take control of the entire meal and prevent you from savoring each bite. Instead of covering your lunch or dinner with hot sauce, order it on the side. This allows you to experiment by dipping different ingredients in the spice and adjusting how much you consume. Build your tolerance by trying sauces with different heat levels.

3. Cool Down Your Mouth Promptly

If you aren’t used to eating spicy foods, then even a small amount may seem shocking to your palate at first. That’s to be expected. You might compare it to building muscle; a little burn is required to achieve results. Make sure that you have something cool on hand to relieve your mouth if you’re uncomfortable. Rice, bread, and yogurt are all effective spice tamers that help neutralize the heat just enough.

Are you craving something spicy and flavorful for lunch or dinner? Head straight to Urban Wok in St. Paul, MN. They specialize in delicious stir-fry dishes that incorporate healthy ingredients you can customize however you like. If you’re experimenting with spices, you have your choice of several sauces that are prepared in-house daily, including Caribbean jerk, jalapeno green, habanero, and Korean gochujang sauce. Create balance by piling on the vegetables, along with the protein of your choice. Visit them online to view their menu, or call them at (651) 493-4717 to speak with a representative.