If you cringe at the thought of spicy food, you may have felt like you’re missing out. While you and your best friends might not have matching taste buds, there’s a way to build up a tolerance to spicy foods so you can enjoy them along with everyone else. Use the following guide to start sampling the most flavorful, hot Mexican cuisine with your loved ones.

3 Pointers for Eating Spicy Food

1. Build Your Tolerance

The burning sensation experienced when eating spicy food is caused by capsaicin, a natural component found in hot peppers that activates pain receptors without physically hurting you. During this sensation, your body releases dopamine and endorphins, making you feel happy or even euphoric. After repeated exposure to capsaicin, the nerve endings in your mouth will temporary deteriorate. If you continue to eat spicy food on a regular basis, you can keep them from growing back, which will make it easier to enjoy the pleasing effects of spice.

2. Know How to Cool It

Even the bravest spicy food enthusiasts need something to wet their whistle. As a newbie, you’ll have to be extra picky about what you use to cool down after a bite of Mexican cuisine like chicken mole or a chile relleno burrito. To quickly ease your mouth, reach for milk, rice, sour cream or honey because dairy contains casein, a protein that breaks capsaicin chemical bonds.

3. Go Slow

When consuming capsaicin, it’s best to eat slowly; otherwise, each bite will compound on top of the other, strengthening the overall reaction. By eating slowly and alternating between spice and coolant, you can give your mouth a bit of recovery time between doses. If the spice continues to bother you, you’ll only have to wait about 15 minutes for it to dissipate completely.

If you’re ready to embark on your spicy food journey, stop by Ono Loco Tacos in Wahiawa, HI, for mouthwatering Mexican cuisine. From chimichangas to shrimp ceviche, their versatile menu offers countless options to help you build up a tolerance to spice. View their menu online or call (808) 376-8996 to reach the Wahiawa location or (808) 487-1077 to contact the Salt Lake eatery.