4 Things Your Burps Are Trying To Tell You - Prevention

Maybe your like

Subscribe
My Bookmarks
Shopping
Prevention Premium
Health
Conditions and Diagnoses
Weight Loss
Fitness
Sex
Food & Nutrition
Beauty
Life
Newsletter
Follow
About Prevention.com
Medical Review Board
Prevention Awards
Win

Skip to Contentsign inSubscribeSearch

sign inSubscribe

Health
Wellness & Self Care
Food & Nutrition
Fitness
Health News
What to Buy
About Us

My Bookmarks
Newsletter

Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use

sign inSubscribe

Health
Wellness & Self Care
Food & Nutrition
Fitness
Health News
What to Buy
About Us
More

wissanustock/Shutterstock

Belching can be embarrassing, but eructation (the medical term for burping) is rarely a sign of anything serious. "In the vast majority of cases, it's a benign symptom," says Paul Berggreen, MD, a gastroenterologist and the founder of Arizona Digestive Health. "Intestinal gas, on the other hand, may be associated with some food intolerances." In other words, if you have a lot of gas coming out the other end, it could be caused by lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, or conditions that interfere with carbohydrate absorption, like celiac disease.

Of course, the fact that burping is usually harmless is probably not much consolation if you've ever let one slip during an important meeting or a first date. Still, your burps can offer a few clues about your health and your eating habits. Here's what they want you to know. (Heal your whole body with Rodale's 12-day liver detox for total body health.)

"You're eating too fast."

jennylipets/Shutterstock

If you tend to rush through your meals—gulping down coffee in the morning, grabbing a quick bite on your lunch break, wolfing down dinner in front of the television—you may find yourself burping a lot. "The single most common cause of belching is swallowing air," says Berggreen. (You burp when the upper esophageal sphincter muscle relaxes and all that air gets expelled.) Another good reason to slow it down: Eating too fast has been linked to consuming extra calories, which can raise your risk of obesity.

MORE: 15 Teeny Tiny Changes To Lose Weight Faster

"Your sinuses are acting up."

kakigori studio/Shutterstock

When you're feeling stuffy, you tend to breathe through your mouth. "[Swallowing air] happens much more frequently when people are having issues with their sinuses," Berggreen says. If it's allergy season or you have a nasty head cold, take extra care to eat slowly.

MORE: Exactly What To Eat When You Have A Cold Or Flu

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

"You're drinking a lot of soda."

mhatzapa/Shutterstock

Ever noticed how you (or a less well-mannered friend) can really project burps after chugging a can of soda? Carbonated beverages basically deliver air directly to your stomach—and burps that come from the belly, rather than the esophagus, tend to be noisier and smellier. "In general, burps from the esophagus are smaller," Berggreen says. "Carbonated drinks usually cause gas to come out of the solution in the stomach. Burps that come from the stomach typically have a stronger smell, as the food has been at least partially digested."

MORE: 8 Things That Happen When You Finally Stop Drinking Diet Soda

"You might have reflux."

lineartestpilot/Shutterstock

If belching is accompanied by nausea or heartburn—or it feels like you throw up in your mouth a little when you burp—you might actually have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux. "People sometimes feel food or fluid coming up into their chest or even into their throat," Berggreen says. If those symptoms ring true for you, he suggests a few tips for reducing reflux: