Do you often experience rotten egg burps, aka sulfur burps? The hydrogen sulfide gas in these burps gives them a foul aroma.
We will explore how to get rid of rotten egg burps through natural home remedies and how you can avoid them in this article. Let’s begin.
Table of Contents
What is a rotten egg burp or sulfur burp?
Burping is a natural way to release the excess gas from your stomach, but at times, some burps come with a strong sulfur smell. But the gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide we inhale and exhale are generally odorless. In fact, burping or belching is a healthy way of releasing the built-up gases in the stomach.
Sometimes, though, the gas emitted from the stomach mixes up with sulfur, which occurs in the digestive tract. This is when a strong smell is released along with a burp. Even if you don’t burp with sound, sulfur burps have a rotten egg smell, which can be quite embarrassing in crowds.
Are Sulfur Burps serious?
Burps are a normal way of expelling gas from the digestive system. Typically we expel oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and methane, but releasing hydrogen sulfide is rare. When the burp contains sulfur or a rotten egg smell, then it is called a sulfur burp.
If you are getting sulfur burps frequently, it is harmless because it can be due to something you recently ate. However, frequent sulfur burps can be a sign of some underlying illness or disease.
When gut bacteria break down food, they create gases in the digestive system. During this process, most people believe they are gassy, but they are not. A person normally passes 14 to 23 gasses a day, which is considered healthy. The digestive system produces this kind of gas, which is expelled through flatulence or burping.
Drinking or eating fast often leads to excessive burps. Burping that smells foul may indicate a digestive illness. In every digestive system, there are different intestinal bacteria. Therefore, some foods or beverages containing sulfur or gas can target some people.
The following diseases are associated with excessive rotten egg burps:
- Burping after eating food with vomiting can be a sign of food poisoning.
- Intestinal parasites
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy or fluctuations in hormones
- GERD
- Acid reflux
- Colitis
- Colon cancer
- Gastroparesis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Heartburn, indigestion, bloating, and maybe H.pylori infection.
- Gastritis
The above conditions, particularly excessive burping and gas, can become a serious problem. The most alarming symptoms include cramping, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. When these symptoms are accompanied by sulfur, burps can become a serious issue. In this case, it is better to consult a physician.
What Are the Causes Of Rotten Egg Burps?
Most burps smell like food, which is caused by food and the stomach’s existing food. Despite its foul smell, sulfur is not so bad. It is a harmless element. It smells like hydrogen sulfide gas. There are many reasons why sulfur burps occur.
The last thing you ate
Hydrogen sulfide gas forms during the breakdown of food, resulting in foul-smelling burps in the mouth. Foods high in protein and alcohol cause these sulfur burps.
Gastrointestinal Effect
Your digestive system plays a role in rotten egg burps. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are the conditions that form gas from the stomach to rise, like stomach acid reflux and burps.
Bacteria cause sulfur burps that may affect the digestive system
The pylori bacteria and upper gastrointestinal tract infection can cause heartburn, sulfur burps, and bloating. Sulfur burps are usually triggered by anxiety, stress, food poisoning, pregnancy, and other factors.
Ways to Get Rid of Rotten Egg Burps Naturally
Those with these digestive issues can adopt some effective diet changes to avoid gas which is the cause of sulfur burps.
Herbal Teas
Many of us enjoy teas that contain caffeine. However, it is advisable to avoid regular tea since it may contain some serious addictive substances and cause digestive issues. These herbal teas are good for your digestive system:
- Green Tea: Starting with green tea, it can be perfect for your digestive system. The catechins it contains helps to remove toxins and leads to good health.
- Peppermint Tea: It is a beneficial tea to remove bad breath, including improving your digestive system. Drinking peppermint tea throughout the day can help keep burps limited or minimum.
- Chamomile Tea: It is another effective herbal tea for your digestive system. It is highly beneficial to improve the immune system with time and reduce sulfur burps.
Water
I know what you are thinking. Yes, you drink water every day, but how much matters. Drinking water regularly can help to bring a difference to your health and control rotten egg burps. Drinking warm water avoids bad breath and also protects the stomach from harmful bacteria.
Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before a heavy meal so that it can deal with sulfur-rich foods and heavy proteins.
Honey
Consuming organic honey in the early morning can help to improve your digestive system. The tea tree yields manuka honey, which is known as medical honey. It helps kill infectious bacteria like E. coli (E. Coli) and Salmonella Typhimurium and provides great relief for your digestive system. Honey can even relieve some disorders such as IBS.
Baking Soda
The sodium bicarbonate in baking soda has been a natural remedy for a variety of digestive problems, including ulcers, bad breath, and heartburn. When you take a spoonful of baking soda in water, sulfur odors are reduced, and normal burps keep gastric juices in balance.
Apple Cider Vinegar
To treat digestive system disorders and balance the digestive tract, apple cider vinegar is best. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps prevent that bacteria from growing in the gut. To relieve digestive disorders, add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it every day.
Walking
Walking is a good way to move gas quickly through your digestive system if you want to get rid of rotten egg burps naturally.
Sleep on the Left Side
Sleeping on your left side may help you pass excess gas when you’re lying down, resting, or sleeping.
Simethicone and Antacids
An over-the-counter antacid or simethicone may help. While they don’t avoid or take excessive gas, they quickly help the gas pass through the digestive tract. Follow the doctor’s instructions, and don’t use more than what’s recommended.
Bismuth subsalicylate
Bismuth Subsalicyiate is also a good medication that helps to reduce the odor of hydrogen sulfide gas. The main thing is that this medication may not apply to everyone. So it is better to consult a pharmacist before using it and don’t take it by aspirin.
Probiotics
Probiotics are products and foods that contain live bacteria. They have the ability to calm your digestive tract and balance it.
Foods to Avoid
Below are some foods which may contribute to uncomfortable rotten egg burps:
Trigger Foods
Trigger foods can vary from person to person. Broccoli and garlic contain a high amount of sulfur, but this may not always cause reactions in everyone. Specific types of surgery can cause sulfur burps in some people but not in all.
Alcohol
Several studies suggest that excessive drinking causes sulfur burps. Alcohol disrupts your digestive system and leads to stomach acid reflux, which causes sulfur burps. People can get relief from their digestive symptoms by cutting out alcohol.
Carbonated Beverages
To decrease burps, limit your intake of sparkling water, soda water, and carbonated water.
Sugary Foods
Due to sugar’s ability to grow bacteria in the gut, hydrogen sulfide gas is produced, leading to sulfur burps. When you avoid sugar, you may be able to reduce your symptoms.
Heavy Meals
Even digesting heavy food or meals rich in protein can release sulfur gas. Therefore, it is better to consume smaller portions and eat and drink slowly to avoid digestive issues.
Food High in Preservatives
There are a lot of preservatives in packaged foods, processed foods, canned foods, and fast foods. As a result of the high concentrations of preservatives, digestive symptoms become worse, and sulfur burps may occur. You should avoid these preservative foods if you want to improve your digestion.
When should you seek medical treatment?
If you get sulfur burps, you should see a doctor since they can help you make an informed choice on your diet and even provide you with diagnostic testing. Tests can be run to determine the real cause of excessive gas, and medication such as antacids can be prescribed.
Even after changing your diet, some people still experience burps, even after following the above home remedies. Burps often occur along with other symptoms, such as vomiting, weight loss, fever, chest pain, digestive tract pain, nausea, diarrhea, and a doctor’s consultation. The doctor helps identify the digestive issues behind these symptoms.
Bottom line
As a final note, sulfur burps can only be serious when they go hand in hand with the above symptoms. We discovered some home remedies and foods to avoid to get relief from rotten egg burps.
Even though sometimes those remedies don’t make a difference and make matters worse. So, consult a doctor before things get worse.
Many digestive problems can be reduced by eating a healthy, balanced diet. So, now you know how to get rid of rotten egg burps naturally.
