Your taste buds love a spicy meal, but your stomach seems to disagree. While eating fiery fare doesn't guarantee a bellyache, for many people, tongue-tingling meals come with a digestive downside.
"Spicy foods frequently exacerbate stomach discomfort and heartburn, especially for those diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)," says Jacob Skeans, MD, a gastroenterologist and an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
While heartburn and reflux are some of the most common symptoms, spicy meals can also cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the stomach, a feeling of fullness, and burping.
The culprit is capsaicin, the compound that gives hot peppers their kick. "It's the major source of pain from spicy foods, and it binds to nerves in the mouth, tongue, and esophagus," Dr. Skeans says.
Capsaicin can also slow the rate at which food exits the stomach, causing food to sit in the stomach for longer. "This increases the chances that stomach contents will reflux into the esophagus and cause heartburn symptoms," says Skeans.
6 Ways to Quell Stomach Pain From Spicy Food
The best way to avoid this discomfort is to steer clear of spicy foods, especially two to three hours before going to bed, Skeans says. But if you don't want to give them up completely, there are some ways to better stand the heat. Here are six tips to curb an upset stomach from spicy food.
1. Medication
Over-the-counter drugs are one of the most effective soothers of occasional spice-induced heartburn or stomach pain. Which type you take depends on whether you want fast-acting quick relief, or something that takes some time but keeps you comfortable for a bit longer.
"Over-the-counter options like Tums and Maalox work relatively quickly to neutralize gastric acid, which contributes to stomach discomfort or GERD," says Rita Knotts, MD, a gastroenterologist at New York University Langone Health in New York City. The effects of these calcium carbonate-based meds can wear off quickly, though: within 30 to 60 minutes, meaning you may need to take another dose to stay comfortable until the spicy food leaves your stomach.
Over-the-counter histamine receptor antagonists like famotidine (Pepcid AC) and cimetidine (Tagamet HB) offer relief for up to 12 hours by decreasing levels of acid in the stomach. They take a little longer to kick in, though, Dr. Knotts says.
Proton pump inhibitors are a better choice to manage heartburn symptoms that recur regularly. In addition to blocking the production of acid in the stomach, PPIs help the tissue in the esophagus heal by preventing repeated exposure to acidic stomach fluids. They're available over-the-counter or by prescription, but you should discuss the pros and cons of PPIs with your doctor first, Knotts says.
2. Nonfat Milk
Dairy is known for its ability to cool your mouth during a fiery meal, because its proteins break down capsaicin. A glass of milk may help settle your stomach afterward, too, Knotts says.
Just be sure to sip nonfat. "The higher fat content [of whole or low-fat milk] can worsen reflux," she says.
3. Water
Water might not ease the burn in your mouth, but it could make your stomach more comfortable. "Water can help dilute stomach acid contents and wash refluxed acids out of the esophagus," says Skeans.
Resist the urge to guzzle, though, because drinking a lot of water at once can leave your stomach feeling uncomfortably full, Knotts says.
4. Chewing Gum
A stick of sugar-free gum might neutralize spicy food in the stomach. Though research is limited and more studies are needed to confirm these findings, a small study found that chewing sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after eating reduced heartburn in people who regularly experience acid reflux. (This is an older study, and a similar trial hasn't been conducted since.)
That's because chewing gum boosts your mouth's production of saliva. "Saliva contains bicarbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid. And the increased frequency of swallowing allows the bottom of the esophagus to clear refluxed contents more quickly," Skeans says.
5. Ginger
Ginger chews, capsules, and ginger teas are popular herbal stomach soothers, particularly when it comes to nausea. But it might help with general feelings of indigestion. "It's demonstrated some effect in the treatment of what we call dyspepsia, which is fullness after eating, abdominal pain, or discomfort," Knotts says.
You may want to steer clear if your main symptom is heartburn, though. Some forms of ginger have the potential to cause reflux or make it worse.
6. Iberogast
An herbal extract made from plants including angelica root, chamomile, and licorice, Iberogast is a stomach-soother more commonly used in Europe than in the United States. But research suggests it could be effective: A review published in July 2020 showed that Iberogast may relieve a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms. "For those mostly with stomach upset, it's been shown to help," Skeans says.
The Takeaway
Spicy food can exacerbate stomach discomfort and heartburn because it contains capsaicin, which is what gives spicy foods their kick.
Over-the-counter or prescription medications can quickly alleviate stomach acid-related discomfort but may require repeated doses for continued relief.
Other remedies, such as nonfat milk, ginger, sugar-free gum, or Iberogast, will relieve some of the burn caused by spicy food.
Water can soothe stomach upset, but may worsen the burning sensation of spicy food in the mouth.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
Patcharatrakul T et al. Acute Effects of Red Chili, a Natural Capsaicin Receptor Agonist, on Gastric Accommodation and Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Healthy Volunteers and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients. Nutrients. December 2020.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Diagnosis & treatment. Mayo Clinic. April 23, 2025.
Can Milk Relieve the Pain From Spicy Food? Cleveland Clinic. October 28, 2021.
Moazzez R et al. The Effect of Chewing Sugar-Free Gum on Gastroesophageal Reflux. Journal of Dental Research. November 2005.
Aregawi LG et al. The Effect of Ginger Supplementation on the Improvement of Dyspeptic Symptoms in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia. Cureus. September 2023.
Kim YS et al. Herbal Therapies in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Narrative Review and Clinical Implication. Frontiers in Psychiatry. July 9, 2020.
Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.
Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.
She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.
Marygrace Taylor is a health writer and editor based in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in publications including Parade, Glamour, Women's Health, Prevention, Redbook, Men's Health, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She's also the coauthor of Eat Clean, Stay Lean: The Diet and Prevention Mediterranean Table.
