Sulfur Burps and Diarrhea, Vomiting, Farts: Causes, Cures & Remedies

Sulfur burps are sometimes known as egg burps. They arise as a result of the digestive system expelling out hydrogen sulfide gas produced in the process of protein breakdown.

In this article, you will find information on what exactly are the causes of the problem, accompanying symptoms and cures that get rid of the foul sulfur belches and diarrhea. Also, various home remedies to deal with the condition have been extensively discussed.

What are sulfur burps?

The process of expelling gases from your stomach is known as burping. Sulfur burps occur when you consume excess foods with high amounts of proteins.

These are broken down in the intestine and stomach by the digestive system, and in the process, a lot of gases (hydrogen sulfide) is released. These gases have a pungent rotten-egg smell.

Most of the causes of sulfur burps are not in any way life-threatening and are easy to treat, especially with home remedies. However, when egg burps are accompanied by nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, it could be an indication of a more serious underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.

In such cases, it is always advisable to see your doctor for examination and management of the condition.

Causes of sulfur burps and watery diarrhea

1. Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder disease causes damage to the bile duct, a component that plays a bigger role in ensuring there is complete digestion. The common symptoms of gallbladder disease are diarrhea, incomplete digestion, and burping.

However, it is also important to note that if you have damaged bile, the damage interferes with the normal flow of bile in the digestion process resulting in slow and incomplete digestion. This factor leads to bloating and belching. Additionally, symptoms such as diarrhea and burping may be experienced.

2. Medications

Some medications have been manufactured with ingredients containing sulfur compounds such as methionine amino acids or cysteine.

These medications, when taken, result in sulfur compounds dissolving in your stomach content and begin to release sulfur smelling burps or burps that smell like rotten eggs.

3. Intestinal Bacterial infection

According to the journal of clinical Gastroenterology, an intestinal bacterial infection can result in a host of intestinal problems such as watery diarrhea, white diarrhea, stomach ulcers, and sulfur burps. The common types of bacteria that cause intestinal problems are Giardia lamblia and H. pylori.

H.pylori can cause sulfur compounds to build up in the stomach, and this in the long-run results to halitosis, stomach ulcers, excessive burping (including sulfur burps), and other gastroenteritis issues.

On the other hand, Giardia lamblia causes diarrhea, fever, sulfur burps, and other gastroenteritis problems such as a bloated abdomen and bloated gas.

4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel syndrome produces high levels of hydrogen sulfide, which can cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, gut abnormalities, diarrhea, and sulfur burps.

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may vary from patient to patient. It is therefore important you see your doctor for examination and proper guidance.

5. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

The intestine has bacteria that are essential in nutrient absorption and the breakdown of food compounds; however, when these bacteria build-up to excess levels, they cause gastroenteritis problems.

These include a bloated abdomen, a build-up of hydrogen methane, sulfide, and carbon dioxide gases, which in turn result in sulfur burps that smell like rotten eggs.

6. Improper Diet

Dieting on heavy meals that are hard to digest, such as proteins and carbohydrates, stay in the colon and stomach for a very long time, a factor that results in the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in the stomach, that latter comes out in the form of a sulfur smelling burps.

To avoid sulfur burps, you need to regulate your diet by eating small amounts of protein and carbohydrate foods.

Some of the foods to be taken in small quantities include:

• Cakes and candy
• Poultry
• Dairy products such as yogurt
• Red meats
• Some vegetables such as cabbage
• legumes

7. Crohn’s Disease

Sulfur Burps are very common in people who suffer from Crohn’s disease. The reason is that people who are affected by Crohn’s disease normally have incomplete and slow digestion.

However, if you have felt that you are experiencing slow and incomplete digestion, you need to visit your doctor for examination, diagnosis, and medical treatment.

8. Chronic Medical Conditions

Chronic conditions in your digestive system, such as celiac disease, gastrointestinal reflux disease, pancreatitis, and colon cancer, are also known to cause sulfur burps and diarrhea.

Also, studies have suggested that regular belching in the elderly could be a sign of a chronic health disorder within the digestive system.

9. Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is among the major causes of diarrhea and burping and is caused by a build-up of bacteria in the digestive system due to eating bacteria-contaminated foods.

These contaminated foods result in burping, diarrhea, and consequently, burps that smell rotten eggs.

10. Mal-digestion and mal-absorption

Though mal-digestion and mal-absorption may not directly lead to sulfur burping, it interferes with lower bowel. In this case,  bacteria get nutrients and residue to feed on a factor that results in overgrowth of bacteria in the digestive tract; this, in turn, brings about sulfur burping and diarrhea.

Rotten-egg smelling farts

Farting is the passing of air out of the body through the rear end. Air is usually produced in the stomach during the process of digestion.

The bacteria in the intestines cause the production of gas by breaking down proteins and starches that cannot easily be broken down by enzymes. Some of the causes of rotten-egg smelling farts include:

1. Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the difficulty of the digestive system to break down carbohydrates (lactose) such as dairy products due to insufficient production of lactase enzymes in the intestines. Therefore digestion of these products is slowed down, resulting in discomforts in the lower abdomen, and this causes one to pass out rotten–egg smelling farts.

2. Alcohol consumption

Sulfur compounds have preservative capabilities; hence they are used as additives in the production of drinks such as wines and beers. However, when these alcoholic drinks are consumed, the sulfur compounds are broken down in the stomach and intestines into hydrogen sulfide that is released out as rotten–egg smelling farts.

3. Sensitivity to Gluten

Gluten-sensitive people have a hard time breaking down and digesting certain food types with gluten content.

However, in the process of digesting these foods, a lot of gas is usually produced that causes discomfort in the lower abdomen in the form of rotten–egg smelling farts.

4. Flatulence

Flatulence is a side effect of taking over-the-counter medications. Sulfur ingredients are used in the production of many medications; hence when these medications are taken, the sulfur compounds will be broken down in the intestines resulting in the production of gases in the form of rotten–egg smelling farts.

Stomach pain (upset stomach)

Burping and diarrhea are usually the tale-tale signs that your stomach is not in good condition.  According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 million Americans report to doctors every year due to stomach problems.

Stomach upsets, in most cases, are usually due to consumption of foods that have high contents of proteins; hence when these foods are broken down, they release high volumes of gas, which is released as hydrogen sulfide (sulfur burps).

Some of the foods that might irritate your stomach and make you end up stomach upsets include:

• Poultry products such as eggs
• Dairy products
• Red meat.

Sulfur-smelling breath

According to medicalFoster sulfur smelling breath is due to a condition known as Gastroesophageal reflux.

This is a condition whereby partially digested food in your stomach flows up the esophagus creating discomfort and unpleasant burps that smell like rotten eggs.

Vomiting and nausea

Though vomiting and nausea are rare symptoms that accompany sulfur burping, the following could be the possible causes of this condition:

Racin poisons

Racin is poison normally found in castor beans, and this poison gets into your digestive tract, it results in nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Sometimes it can also cause symptoms such as fever, excessive sweating, and trouble breathing.

Shigellosis

This is a condition that causes an abrupt inflammation of the intestines and stomach, resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis

This is swelling of the lymph nodes in the abdomen, a factor that eventually results in vomiting, pain, and a feeling of nausea.

Rotavirus

This virus results in swollen and inflamed intestines, thus resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

How to get rid of sulfur burps

Home remedies and cures

There are many home remedies that can effectively get rid of sulfur burping, and its accompanying symptoms, among the remedies and measure to be taken, include:

Avoid foods that increase burping symptoms

To reduce the effects of sulfur, burps consider avoiding the following foods:

• Red meats, eggs, and poultry meat.
• Dairy products, such as milk and yogurt.
• Seeds and nuts such as cashew nuts, pine nuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, pistachios, and peanuts.
• Fruits like bananas and avocado.
• Legumes such as beans, lentils, carob, soy, and alfalfa.
• Also, foods such as yams, broccoli, Swiss chard, asparagus, watercress, and potatoes.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a common household substance with a white crystalline look that is usually used as a baking agent.

When used to get rid of sulfur burps, it acts as an antacid to neutralize the acids in your digestive tract and also helps to restore the PH balance of your digestive tract while getting rid of bloating and excessive gas.

To use Baking Soda:

1. Take warm water in a glass and add to it 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
2. Stir the mixture thoroughly and add a few drops of lemon juice.
3. Drink the whole glass of the mixture.
4. Repeat this process after 3 hours, then before going to bed.
5. Alternatively, you can follow the same steps, but instead of lemon juice, you can substitute it with apple cider vinegar.

It is important to observe the following before using baking soda as an antacid.

1. Avoid using baking soda to get rid of sulfur burps in children.
2. If you are on other over-the-counter prescriptions, consider consulting your doctor before using baking soda as a remedy for sulfur burps because it can interact with this prescription and result in severe effects.
3. If you have any underlying chronic medical conditions such as kidney failure, Hypocalcemia, liver cirrhosis, or heart failure, avoid using baking soda.
4. Pregnant and lactating women need the guidance or direction of a physician as to whether they can use baking soda for sulfur burps or not.
5. Baking soda when taken in high amounts can lead to high blood pressure; hence do not use large amounts of baking soda.

Manuka Honey

Honey contains ingredients that are rich in antibacterial properties. When used to get rid of sulfur burps, it kills the potential bacterial causing infections within the gut and the digestive system, example of such bacteria in the digestive system include Enterobacter aerogenes , Escherichia coli (E. coli) and salmonella typhimurium.

Also, in the process of getting rid of sulfur burps, manuka honey, helps to protect the digestive lining and relieve symptoms of stomach disorders. However, to make an effective home remedy of honey, you need to mix honey and lemon juice.

How to make a remedy of honey:

1. Take half glass of warm water.
2. Squeeze a fresh lemon and add the juice to this warm water.
3. Add 5 tablespoons of honey to this solution and stir thoroughly.
4. Drink this mixture 3 times per day for 2 days to get relief from sulfur burps and gas.

Also, a great choice would be a Certified Manuka Honey by Onuku (Check price on Amazon)

Green Tea

Green tea can help to reduce excess gas and get rid of foul-smelling sulfur burps and stomach pains.

To use Green Tea:

1. Take a glass of hot water.
2. Add some mashed green tea leaves to it or 1 tablespoon of dried green tea powder.
3. Allow the mixture to cool down for 15 minutes.
4. Filter the mixture and then drink it.
5. You can repeat this process 2 times a day for 2 days.

Peppermint Tea

Drinking peppermint tea is a very effective way of getting rid of smelling sulfur burps and diarrhea. Drink this regularly to alleviate egg and sulfur burps.

To make and use peppermint:

1. Take a glass of warm water and add a handful of dry peppermint leaves powder.
2. Allow the mixture to cool down for at least 15 minutes.
3. Strain the mixture and drink it.
4. Drink 2 to 3 glasses of this remedy per day till burping goes away.

Chamomile Tea

Many researchers have shown that chamomile tea as herbal has immune-boosting and antibacterial properties.

When chamomile is taken as a home remedy for sulfur burps, the antibacterial ingredients fight bacteria in the gut and the digestive system in the process, helping to get rid of egg-like smelling gas.

To use Chamomile Tea:

1. Add a handful of chamomile dried flowers into a cup of boiling water.
2. Leave the mixture to cool down for at least 15 minutes.
3. Strain the mixture and drink the solution.
4. Consume this tea every day after taking your meals.

You can also find chamomile tea on Amazon

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is an effective and faster way of getting rid of sulfur burps. It helps reduce symptoms of sulfur burps and nausea and consequently improves the health of the digestive tract.

To make Ginger tea:

1. Add 2 teaspoons of ginger powder into a cup of hot water and stir thoroughly.
2. Leave the solution to cool down for at least 10 minutes and drink the solution.
3. Consume this tea every day after taking your meals.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and healing properties that make it an effective solution for sulfur burps when used regularly.

To use apple cider vinegar:

1. Take apple cider vinegar and add 5 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of lukewarm water.
2. Drink this solution every day before going to bed.

Drinking water

Drinking water enough water is also one of the best ways of getting rid of sulfur burps and bad breath. Many studies have indicated that drinking a lot of water daily helps to protect your stomach from being infected by bacteria and the effects of sulfur burps.

 Treatment options

Here are some of the treatment options that can be used to get rid of sulfur burps. Consider the following:

1. Over-the-counter medications

Many over-the-counter medicines help to get rid of accompanying symptoms of sulfur burps. It is important to consult your doctor to know which medications are best suited for you.

2. Digestive Enzyme Supplements

Digestive enzyme supplements are very effective in getting rid of sulfur burps. They speed up the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates in your digestive tract, hence facilitating effective and speedy digestion. It is important to consult your doctor for prescriptions of these supplements.

3. Adding Probiotics to your Diet

Probiotics will kill the bacteria that produce foul gases and improve the efficiency of the immune system. Probiotics can be found in pickles and yogurt. We highly recommend Nordic Naturals Flora Probiotic Comfort – Probiotic for Intestinal Health, For Those With Digestive Issues (Check price on Amazon)

4. Use Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal absorbs hydrogen sulfide gas that causes sulfur burps that smell like rotten eggs. However, you also need to know that activated charcoal does not work for everyone. It is, therefore, important to consult your doctor before using it.

References

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319392.php
2. https://www.belmarrahealth.com/sulfur-burps-rotten-egg-burps-causes-home-remedies/