Dr. Mark Corkins, head of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at the Health Sciences Center of Tenesio University, says he often receives questions on this topic – why it happens and how often burping is normal, CNN HEALTH reports. “There are several ‘gas’ sources, and not all gas is the same. Part of what we release through the anus is simply air. We all swallow some air, and some people just swallow more. Then the burping is odorless,” explained the gastroenterologist.
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The second reason, according to the doctor, is real gas. It is primarily a byproduct of food fermentation in the large intestine. “There are billions of bacteria living in our large intestine. If we don’t digest (editor’s note – food), the bacteria do it,” explained the professor.
According to Dr. William Chey, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Michigan, gas release from five to 15 times a day is completely normal. “This is because people’s digestive tracts function differently, they have different digestive microbiomes, and diets are not the same. All these things are actually the main factors determining how often and what odor the gas released has,” said the doctor.
According to specialists, gas is not as much an indicator of gut health as bowel movement frequency and texture. However, dietary choices significantly influence the amount of gas, and there are certain cases when troublesome burping should be mentioned to a doctor.
Gut function
Doctors note that consuming harder-to-digest foods, which are more prone to fermentation, can cause especially a lot of gas.
“A classic old example is beans, because beans contain proteins that are usually hard to digest,” gave an example M. Corkins.
Some people have problems when they eat a lot of red meat, added W. Chey. In fact, according to him, almost everyone who eats enough red meat cannot properly digest or absorb it. So it reaches your colon, where it ferments, producing gas and chemical substances. According to doctors, the same can happen with excess carbohydrates.
Doctors note that consuming harder-to-digest foods, which are more prone to fermentation, can cause especially a lot of gas.
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Another thing not to ignore is bowel habits, W. Chey pointed out.
“People who are constipated are much more prone to abdominal and intestinal bloating. This is because if products move very slowly through the digestive tract, they have more time to interact with the bacteria of the digestive tract, especially the large intestine. This produces more gas,” explained the professor.
Uncontrolled “bombs”
If gas causes discomfort or interferes with daily life, you should talk to a doctor, doctors say. There are other things you can try.
“We ask patients about each of these different factors – diet, microbiome, and digestive tract function – and try to adjust some of the mentioned things that we think may contribute to bloating problems,” said Chey. For example, if a person follows a typical Western diet, which includes a lot of processed food, carbohydrates, and sugar, the first advice is to reduce these products and eat healthier.
According to W. Chey, a patient should also visit a doctor if they have diarrhea too often. Especially if you suddenly start losing weight, blood appears in the stool, or bowel habits change drastically.
“This may be a sign of infection, inflammation, or enzyme deficiency, which can only be diagnosed and resolved with the help of healthcare professionals,” said Chey.
While waiting for a doctor’s visit, the professor advises keeping a “gas diary,” noting when gas troubles you, what physical activity and food accompanied it, which can help identify ailments.
