Comments on: Too much of a good thing

Question: Too much of a good thing

davejay — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:12:18 -0800

I've made an unfortunate nutritional mistake; am I in for a world of hurt, and is there anything I can do about it?

Web surfing and bowls of sashimi don't mix; I wasn't paying attention, and I didn't realize I'd dropped the entire glob of wasabi into my mouth (covered by a lettuce leaf) until I'd already begun chewing and swallowing. A few minutes after somehow managing to successfully avoid throwing up from the intense pain, I realized I now had that glob of wasabi traversing through my system (and I don't feel so good.)

Does anyone out there have some practical advice to minimize the "pain of re-entry" and avoid having an upset stomach/sleepless night all evening, or am I pretty much stuck with it?

By: luriete

luriete — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:19:56 -0800

I eat a lot of sushi, and I really, really like wasabi and other spicy foods. While red chili oil, especially the kind with chili flakes suspended in it, does indeed hurt going and coming as it were, I've never had any pain passing wasabi, even when I've engaged in painful wasabi-threshhold contents. It's possible that it breaks down in your stomach.

By: davejay

davejay — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:21:00 -0800

That's the most reassuring thing I could hope to hear. Asked and answered. Thank you.

By: davejay

davejay — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:21:51 -0800

it would not have been as reassuring were it not for the mention of the painful wasabi-threshhold contests. So thank you, but forgive me if I refuse to have dinner with you.

By: narge

narge — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:30:45 -0800

It's possible that it breaks down in your stomach.

I think it actually breaks down in your mouth. Hold a glob of it under your tongue for thirty seconds or so, and it won't hurt when you swallow it.

By: pwally

pwally — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:07:33 -0800

Maybe watch where you go tomorrow as it may... well you know what I'm getting at.

By: puppy kuddles

puppy kuddles — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:35:54 -0800

I ate a giant chunk of wasabi on a dare once, I felt super sick to my stomach immediately after but once that feeling past I didn't notice any ill effects

By: motown missile

motown missile — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:36:03 -0800

You may also want to dilute some apple cider vinegar with water (about 5% vinegar to 95% water, but YMMV) and drink it to assist the digestive process...for that matter, try drinking more water than you usually do, which may help to flush out (as it were) the wasabi, and minimize the effects it may have on your digestive tract. I've been eating wasabi for years (and other, spicier stuff) and vinegar really does help.

By: fan_of_all_things_small

fan_of_all_things_small — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:36:12 -0800

Wasabi is a mysterious thing and very different from red chili peppers. It affects the mouth in a totally different way, it's more like horseradish than capsaicin. Japanese people tend to have a very low tolerance of chili pepper spiced food, for that reason. Don't worry, you're in the clear I think.

By: davejay

davejay — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:42:32 -0800

Thanks to all. I've still got an upset stomach, so I'm going the vinegar route now.

By: strangecargo

strangecargo — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:37:15 -0800

fan_of_all_things_small: Most "wasabi" *is* horseradish. I've always been curious what the real deal tastes like.

By: anaelith

anaelith — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:05:09 -0800

Tums. Lots of tums. If nothing else, they won't hurt, but I find they settle "general stomach twinge" very nicely.

By: Cat Pie Hurts

Cat Pie Hurts — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:32:00 -0800

derail- strangecargo: it's a very subtle flavor. You can get pure powder from Penzey's. (They also have a fantastic explanation of the difference between wasabi and REAL wasabi.)

By: Nelsormensch

Nelsormensch — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:37:10 -0800

Further derail: I had hon-wasabi (real wasabi) at a small soba restaurant near Aso-san and it's about as subtle as being maced. They brought us a fresh root (looked about like this) which we had to grate ourselves. Now, I love Japanese food, but I'm generally not very keen on faux wasabi. True wasabi took things to a whole other level. Just smelling it made my eyes water. It's got way more punch than fake wasabi, so if you ever get a chance to try it, proceed with caution.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:02:27 -0800

Tums. Lots of tums. If nothing else, they won't hurt, but I find they settle "general stomach twinge" very nicely.

Your stomach needs a pH of 1-3 for the digestive processes to work. Antacids seem like a bad idea in this case.

By: chairface

chairface — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:48:38 -0800

Ginger is a terrific aid to digestion and tummy upset (clinical term). Luckily for you, there is usually a pile of ginger on your sushi plate.

By: pseudostrabismus

pseudostrabismus — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:39:43 -0800

Milk helps counter the zing in spicy stuff- hence its appearance alongside Mexican (sour cream) and Indian (raita) foods. Maybe eat some yogurt?

By: davejay

davejay — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:04:36 -0800

Follow-up: the vinegar calmed my stomach, I went right to sleep, and shall we politely say the wasabi never came back to haunt me. Huzzah!