Sulfur burps can be embarrassing. What causes expelling of air or other gases from your mouth that smells like rotten eggs? There are number of symptoms accompanied with belching of sulfur including vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. This article will look into details the causes, treatment and home remedies to get rid of burping sulfur.
Burping can be described as releasing of air and other gases from the stomach through the mouth. A little gas from your stomach can be considered as normal. But sulfur burps can leave you feeling upset and in most cases embarrassing. Burps from the stomach are due to swallowed air. Vegetables and other foods containing sulfur can cause the rotten egg smell – like burp. If the smell is bothering you, there’s plenty you can do to help get rid of them.
Sulfur burps causes
What causes sulfur burps? There are several reasons you may end up with sulfur burps. Among them include the foods you eat. Some people having certain diseases or infections can also experience burps that smell like rotten eggs. Below are the possible causes of burping sulfur from the stomach through your mouth. They include:
1. Certain Foods
You may not be aware of this. But certain type of foods you consume could be the reason of having sulfur burps. To get rid of this burps that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, identify the food first. It is not limited to vegetarian or non-vegetarians. The list below are some of the foods you should remove from your diet.
- Read meat
- Whey proteins
- Eggs
- Dairy products such as cheese butter or milk
- Fruits such as bananas, avocado, watermelon
- Legumes such as peas, beans, lentils, soy
- Vitamins B and H
- Certain vegetables
- Poultry
The list could be long. You should figure out what foods are responsible for burping sulfur. The point here is. Such food take comparatively longer time to process. In the end, such high protein meal causes too much acidity in the stomach making your body feel bloated. As this continues, hydrogen sulfide and protein accumulate and isn’t expelled.
2. Certain Medications
The other cause of burping sulfur is prescription of certain kind of medications. Medications that has amino acid such as cysteine and methionine could be responsible for burping sulfur. If any of the prescribed drugs or medication has sulfur compound as the ingredient, one that dissolves in the stomach you’re likely to release sulfur smell.
If you can avoid such medications or drugs. You can as well talk to your healthcare provider to prescribe alternatives to this medication. Avoid them if you can.
3. Gastrointestinal infection
Releasing sulfur from the stomach through the mouth could as a result of infection. Gastrointestinal infection could be as a result of many factors. An inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving the stomach and the small intestines could easily result to burping of sulfur. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD
According to Mayo Clinic, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease digestive disease. It occurs when stomach acid or occasionally its content flows back into the wind pipe or the esophagus. The reflux irritates the lining of the wind pipe causing GERD.
People experiencing GERD are more likely to have sulfur burps. If the GERD is causing discomfort including burping rotten egg like smell, make sure you consult your doctor for treatment or advice.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS, is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. IBS commonly causes gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and cramping. This condition is thought to affect up to one in five people at some stage of their lifetime.
How does IBS cause burping sulfur? Sulfur burps are more likely to be experienced with people with irritable bowel syndrome. You may control Irritable Bowel Syndrome by managing your diet, stress and lifestyle. Identify the foods or drinks that triggers IBS which in turn causes belching of sulfur.
6. Celiac Disease
Belching sulfur could mean an underlying medical condition such as celiac disease. This is a serious autoimmune disorder that is triggered when you eat gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and other grains. Belching sulfur happens when you certain foods especially protein.
When People with celiac disease eat food that contains gluten, their body overreacts to the protein. Celiac isn’t similar to food allergy. The symptoms therefore differ. If you have celiac disease and you eat food that has gluten in it, you may end up having intestinal problems like diarrhea, gas and constipation.
7. Giardia infection
This is an infection of the intestines usually marked by abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea and watery diarrhea. It is caused by microscopic parasite found in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water. This kind of intestinal infection could be the cause of belching sulfur.
Giardia infection usually resolve on its own within a few weeks. In case you experience intestinal infection long after the parasite is gone, visit your healthcare provider. There are several drugs that are generally effective against giardiasis, but not everyone responds to them.
8. Overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, SIBO
You may be experiencing sulfur burps as a results of an overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestines. Also known as small intestine bacterial overgrowth or SIBO. This could be above what is considered normal range. This condition tend to cause symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramping, flatulence and diarrhea. This condition could develop as a result of lactose intolerance and malabsorption of fructose as well as other conditions of the small intestines.
9. Other causes
Other than the above discussed cause, you may also experience sulfur burps if:
- You have an empty colon. This can cause rotten egg burps
- You have issues with gallbladder
- You have stress and anxiety. This can cause you to develop symptoms such acid reflux
- Lactose intolerance
Sulfur burps and gas
Sulfur burps and gas could mean there is an underlying condition causing it. The problem could be arising from the stomach and the digestive tract. Among the condition likely to causes sulfur burps and gas or flatulence include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Overgrowth of bacteria sometimes referred to as small intestine bacterial overgrowth, SIBO
- Giardiasis
The gas coming from the stomach through the mouth can be uncomfortable. You need to identify the underlying cause.
Sulfur burps and diarrhea
Belching sulfur and diarrhea is common. The diarrhea is watery and uncomfortable. The diarrhea is a symptom of a major underlying condition. Intestinal infections, GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease are the conditions likely to cause sulfur burps accompanied with diarrhea. The problem is usually with the digestive system. You may need to treat your symptoms to get relief.
Sulfur burps and vomiting
A problem that involves the digestive system will show symptoms such as vomiting. Rotten egg smell or sulfur blech is another symptom to look for in order to treat the condition. For instance, if you have an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving the stomach and the small intestines this could easily result to burping of sulfur. A case in example include gastrointestinal infection. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Sulfur burps cure, treatment
How can one cure or treat sulfur burps? Treatment and getting rid of belching sulfur or rotten egg– like smell depends entirely on the underlying cause. Identify the root cause of your problem first. This is the surest way reducing belching of sulfur the stomach through your mouth. Here are the tips for treating sulfur burps:
- Treat the underlying medical conditions.
If you suspect your sulfur blech is as a result of celiac disease, manage your diet by removing gluten from your diet.
- Antibiotics can also be helpful to treat an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestines.
- For Giardiasis infection, you have to get rid of the parasite causing the infection in your small intestines. There are generally effective drugs found over- the- counter to cure this infection
- For irritable bowel syndrome, there are drugs and medication to cure it. Though it is not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, treatment focuses on the relief of the symptoms. You can try to control the signs and symptoms successfully by learning to manage your diet, lifestyle and stress. Avoid the foods that trigger your symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids, enough sleep. Also try to exercise.
- If the cause of belching sulfur is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and heartburn, usually begin with relieving the symptoms to live a comfortable life. There are good drugs found over- the- counter that can control the acid and burping. In case you don’t experience relief within a few weeks, your doctor may record other treatments. It may include medications and surgery.
- Manage your diet. A sulfur burp caused by eating certain kind of foods such as poultry or whey protein is easy to treat. Avoid such food completely. Remove such food from your diet.
- Certain kind of medication causing belching of sulfur should be avoided.
Avoid all medication that has amino acid such as cysteine and methionine as its ingredients. This could be the cause of sulfur burps.
8. Pepto bismol
Treat your sulfur burps with pepto – Bismol. This is an anti-acid medication use to treat temporary stomach discomforts and gastrointestinal tract such diarrhea, heartburn and nausea. Pepto-Bismol is available as a caplet, chewable tablet and liquid. It works by increasing the amount of fluid intestines absorb, reduces inflammation, kills bacteria and reduces the over activity of the intestines.
Home remedies for Sulfur burps
Treating sulfur burps at home requires making changes to your diet. Below is a list of home remedies that may help get rid or reduce sulfur burps:
1. Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water will help in digesting the proteins in your diet reducing the belching of rotten egg like smell from your mouth.
2. Avoid foods that can cause sulfur burps
Other than medical conditions, foods are the primary cause of sulfur burps. As mentioned earlier in the post, belching sulfur can be caused by a variety of foods. Identify the food that cause this condition. Control your diet to get rid of sulfur burps.
3. Reduce your alcohol consumption
Cutting down your alcohol consumption can help reduce burping of sulfur. Consuming too much alcohol leads to indigestion. You end up having rotten egg smell like burps.
4. Lemon and Honey Mixture
Sulfur burps is as a result of indigestion. A mixture of lemon and honey in water is effective in reducing sulfur burps. Here’s how to use:
- Crush fresh lemon. Extract lemon juice
- Add one teaspoon of honey into the lemon juice
- Mix thoroughly and drink.
5. Green Tea
Drinking at least two glasses of green tea twice daily for a week can help reduce the burping that smells like rotten eggs. Here’s how to make green tea:
- Take a cup of water
- Add 1 teaspoon of dried green tea powder
- Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes, then filter.
- Drink the tea at least twice daily
6. Eat food rich in fiber
Fiber helps to add bulk to food in your stomach. This is good for peristalsis. Food in stomach and intestines will be pushed out of the body as fecal matter. Examples of food rich in fiber include: apples, oranges, Brussel sprout, blackberries, barley etc.
7. Drink Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is one of the effective home remedy that can get rid of stomach and digestion problems causing sulfur burps.
- In a glass of water, put some peppermint leaves into it
- Boil for 5 minutes and strain the mixture
- Drink the tea two to three times in a day
8. Baking Soda
Baking soda is useful in reducing burps that smell and taste like sulfur. Here’s how to make baking water drink.
- Take a glass of water
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- Warm the mixture for 5 minutes
- Stir thoroughly. Drink the liquid.
9. Chew Fennel Seeds
Chewing fennel seeds is effective to reduce and get rid of sulfur burps.
10. Reduce Heavy or Large Meals
Heavy or large meals take comparatively longer time to digest and process. They tend to stay in stomach and digestive tract for longer time. This leads to accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in the stomach which is the reason for sulfur burps.
11. Reduce too heavy meat in your diet
To get rid of sulfur burps at home you have to start controlling and managing your diet. This includes reducing too heavy in your diet. Too much amount of meat makes it difficult for your digestive system to effectively digest and process the protein.
12. Drink fruit juice and fluid regularly
Drinking fruit juice and fluid regularly helps to cleanse your system. It makes the sulfur burps to be less frequent. You can as well add herbal tea.
13. Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet
Cut down the intake of sugar in your diet. Increased sugar in your diet has the ability to increase the amount of gas in the digestive system.
14. Quit Smoking
You have to stop smoking as soon as possible. This could be one of the reason of belching sulfur.
How to Get Rid of Sulfur Burps- Video
Our Sources and References
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/basics/definition/con-20025201
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20024578
- http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease – 1
- https://www.wowremedies.com/sulfur-burps/
- http://askmyhealth.com/sulfur-burps-smell-like-rotten-eggs-belching/
- http://doctordecides.com/sulfur-burps/
- http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/Burps-That-Smell-Like-Rotten-Eggs.html
- http://www.healthhype.com/sulphur-or-rotten-eggs-burps-belching-foul-smelling-gas.html
- http://medicaltreasure.com/sulfur-burps/
- http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/gastrointestinal-disorders/article/sulfur-burps-what-are-they-0816
- http://www.healthline.com/health/diarrhea/pepto-bismol – about-peptobismol2
