Things that make you go "burp" :: Healthier Me Blog at Lincolnshire Nutrition

Things that make you go "burp"

Posted on 6th September 2011 | There are 0 comments. Why not be the first?

This was actually a requested blog post after someone mentioned having to sit through business meetings where there was a buffet lunch and lots of tea and coffee. Oh, and the odd burp too!

Burping, or belching is caused by a build up of gas, generally in the stomach. Lower down, too much gas tends to cause bloating and farting. It's a natural thing and can be caused by a number of different foods or habits. Medically, it's called eructation, but I'll just stick to calling it a burp for this article - I'll tell it as it is!

So where do burps come from?

Eating or drinking too fast - eating large mouthfuls, too quickly with no chewing or gulping down large amount of liquids can lead to larger amounts of air being swallowed. It can also lead to indigestion, which can cause over-acidity and burping.

Fizzy drinks - well, duh!

Chewing gum - believe it or not, this again can lead to a build up of air in the stomach - think about the amount of air you'll inadvertently swallow as you chomp away.

Gassy foods - some foods release gas when they're broken down in the digestive system - look out for sulphurous vegetables in particular e.g. broccoli, beans, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Some people also find onions cause them problems. Fruit can cause gassy problems for some people as well, in fact food combining experts suggest eating all fruit at least 30 minutes apart from other foods. This is because fruit is digested much faster than other foods, so if you eat fruit after other food, it will have to wait to be digested, and in this waiting period it can ferment, causing gas.

Tight clothing or poor posture - too much pressure on the stomach can squeeze a burp out when you least expect it!

Nerves and stress - if you're nervous about an event, it may be that you have a dry mouth but also swallow more. This leads to air entering the digestive system. In addition, stress can lead to acid production in the body, which again can result in air trying to escape.

So, to avoid business meeting embarrassment, or belching in front of Auntie Beryl, take note of the above!