Do you often get acidic burps (khatti dakar) after eating food? Well, while burp is a way for the digestive system to release excess gas, it is acidic. It is also known as sour belching or sulfur burps, and can happen because of several digestive issues such as reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or bacterial infection H. pylori, or maybe because of dietary mistakes. This can be accompanied with other symptoms such as bloating, pain or swelling of the abdomen.

If you are also facing the same problem, we’re here with some simple but effective tips that can help treat acidic burps. Before that, let’s first the causes of digestive issues.

Causes of acidic burps or sour belching

A common cause of acid reflux is an abdominal abnormality called a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. This is a muscle that separates your abdomen from your chest. Normally, the diaphragm helps to retain the acid in our stomach. But if you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause acid reflux symptoms which can result in acidic burps.

Know what can be the cause of acid reflux in the stomach:

• Overeating
• Being overweight or obese
• Lying down or lying on the back after having a heavy meal
• Eating late at night
• Eating certain acid causing foods, such as tomatoes, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods
• Drinking more beverages such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee or tea
• Smoking
• May be because you’re pregnant
• Also, because you’re taking blood pressure medicines

Follow these 8 remedies to save yourself from sour belching, acidity and acid reflux:

1. Lose weight

Obesity is the main cause of acid reflux. Excess abdominal fat puts pressure on the stomach and pushes gastric juices into your esophagus.

2. Avoid foods that cause acid reflux

To reduce the production of acid in your stomach, avoid fatty foods, spicy foods, acidic foods like tomatoes and oranges, mint, chocolate, onions, coffee or caffeinated drinks, and carbonated drinks.

3. Eat less

Large meals fill your stomach and put pressure on the diaphragm, making acidity more likely. So, make sure you eat small meals.

4. Do not lie down immediately after eating

Do not lie down or go to sleep immediately after eating your meals. You should wait for at least 2-3 hours. According to Health Journal, gravity helps prevent acid from developing but when you eat a meal and lie down to take a nap, you take gravity out of the equation. As a result, acid moves up against the diaphragm more easily and reaches the esophagus.

5. Quit smoking

Some studies have found that nicotine can relax the muscles of the diaphragm and may also interfere with your saliva’s ability to clear acid from the esophagus.

Also, read: My mom says hing can resolve digestive issues such as acidity! Here’s why

6. Reduce alcohol intake

Acid reflux, often known as heartburn, is a condition when stomach acid rises into the throat. Smoking and alcohol can worsen the condition. These effects may be lessened by switching to a low-acid fruit juice, such as apple or carrot juice, or by drinking water.

7. Wear loose-fitting clothes

Avoid wearing belts or tight garments that will squeeze your stomach. Extremely tight or fitted clothing can place additional strain on the stomach and intestines. This could make symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux worse.

8. Eat a gluten-free diet

A National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) study has found that gluten, a protein found in grains such as barley, rye and wheat, can cause symptoms of acidity. Try eliminating gluten from your diet and see if that makes a difference.