{"id":627243,"date":"2024-03-07T14:54:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T19:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627243"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:05:33","slug":"sulfur-burps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/sulfur-burps\/","title":{"rendered":"Sulfur burps: Causes & treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Burping is completely normal. And while it may not always be polite, it’s still a sign of a functioning digestive system. Yet when burps start smelling like rotten eggs, it could cause genuine concern instead of mild embarrassment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sulfur burps are a common condition with a wide <\/span>range of causes<\/span><\/a>, including eating certain foods, gastrointestinal issues, medications, and bacterial infections. While they’re typically nothing to worry about, here’s everything you need to know about sulfur burps.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are sulfur burps?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Burping is the body’s way of releasing excess air or gas trapped in the digestive tract. While eating and drinking, we swallow air, which can collect in the esophagus or stomach—especially for people who eat quickly, chew gum, drink soft drinks, eat hard candies, use loose dentures, and smoke. Air can also accumulate from gastroesophageal reflux disease (<\/span>acid reflux<\/span><\/a>), gastritis, ulcers, and food intolerances. But no matter the <\/span>cause of gas<\/span><\/a>, it will eventually force its way out. <\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the release of gas happens <\/span>approximately 13–21 times per day<\/span><\/a> between burps and flatulence. Most of those burps only smell a little, if at all, and they’re barely detectable. But occasionally, they might smell distinctly unpleasant, like rotten eggs. That’s a giveaway for hydrogen sulfide gas—the culprit behind sulfur burps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hydrogen sulfide (H<\/span>2<\/span>S) is a natural byproduct of digestion, and although it rarely comes out as burps, it could under certain circumstances. Sulfur burps don’t always have other symptoms, but <\/span>excess gas can cause<\/span><\/a> bloating, upset stomach, and flatulence. If sulfur burps stem from an underlying cause, they might also accompany diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes sulfur burps?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hydrogen sulfide is the root cause of smelly burps, and its sources can vary. It’s a typical byproduct of digestion, yet certain things can increase its production or force it out of the body. Here are a few of the most common.<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

Diet is one of the primary culprits for sulfur burps, according to <\/span>Rudolph Bedford, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “Certain foods may create a sulfur smell. We think sulfur burps smell like rotten eggs, and eggs are one of those foods, along with other things that are high in protein, like chicken, fish, and beef,” he says. <\/span><\/p>\n

But depending on the person, other foods may also cause foul-smelling burps, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n