Not one but two women reported frequent burping in the last week. One has been experiencing it daily for the last year, and the other since her stomach surgery and after two bouts of coronavirus. 

🔎 Functional Root-Cause Checklist for Burping

1. Eating Habits (Air Swallowing)

• Do you eat quickly or while distracted?

• Do you chew gum, use straws, or drink carbonated beverages often?

• Do you talk a lot while eating?

2. Stomach Acid & Digestion

• Do you feel full quickly, or does food “sit heavy” in your stomach?

• Do you get heartburn, reflux, or a sour taste in your mouth?

• Do digestive enzymes or bitters help improve symptoms?
  (Clue: Low stomach acid can lead to poor breakdown of proteins and more fermentation/burping.)

• Are you taking Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) (Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole)

3. Gut Imbalances

• Do you have bloating, gas, or diarrhea/constipation with meals?

• Any history of SIBO, candida, or food intolerances (gluten, dairy, FODMAPs)?

• Do you notice burping after certain foods (dairy, sugar, beans, cruciferous vegetables)?

4. Infection & Inflammation

• History of H. pylori or stomach ulcers?

• Do you feel nausea, burning, or pain in the upper abdomen?

• Have you had chronic stress (which reduces stomach acid and gut resilience)?

5. Motility & Biliary Issues

• Does burping come with bloating and delayed emptying (fullness hours after meals)?

• Any upper right abdominal discomfort (possible gallbladder connection)?

• Do you feel worse with fatty meals?

Burping All the Time? Acid Reflux Troubles? Here’s What You Need to Know

After watching the digestive distress of these two women, I jumped back into my mentor’s training materials, and I was reminded how upper gastrointestinal (GI) distress, things like GERD, reflux, or heartburn, can range from a simple fix to a complex issue.

Many prior Lifetime Water members asked for GERD support. Most were on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for “acid reflux,” not realizing that reflux often occurs because the stomach doesn’t have enough acid, not because it has too much. Here’s why: a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) separates the stomach from the esophagus. It closes tightly when enough stomach acid is present. When acid is low, the LES may stay open, allowing food and acid to backflow into the esophagus, creating that burning sensation.

The good news? There are simple steps you can try right away, and if those don’t resolve your symptoms, testing and a functional nutrition approach may be the next best step.

Step 1: Stop Drinking Water While You Eat

Drinking water during meals dilutes stomach acid. Most restaurant or tap water has a pH above 8.0, while your stomach should be at a much stronger acidic range of 1.5–2.4 pH. If you flood the stomach with alkaline water at mealtime, you weaken its ability to digest food and keep the LES closed. Stomach acid helps to break down our macronutrients into smaller, digestible pieces. amino acids, carbohydrates. Instead, sip sparingly during meals. If you must have something, try sparkling water in small amounts. 

Step 2: Support Stomach Acid Before Meals

One of the simplest ways to support digestion is to add acidity before eating. If you own a water ionizer, Dr. Peggy Parker’s protocol recommends using a 2.5 pH solution (hypochlorous acid), taking 2-3 tablespoons just before meals. For one client’s husband, this was the step that finally got him off PPIs after decades of chronic reflux.

No ionizer? Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help. 1 Tablespoon in 1 cup of water 15 min before meals (skip this step if you have an ulcer).

Step 3: Add Digestive Enzymes (Especially as You Age)

As we get older, pancreatic enzyme production declines, making digestion harder. Supplementing with digestive enzymes and betaine HCl (particularly if you have the MTRR gene) can support nutrient absorption and reduce reflux. If possible, choose a DNA-based foundational supplement that considers your genetics, as these often include enzyme and HCl support tailored to your needs. (See Resources Below)

Step 4: Cut Out Processed Sugar

Sugar is an anti-nutrient that disrupts gut pH, feeds pathogenic bacteria, and worsens reflux symptoms. Reducing processed sugar is key. If you crave sweetness, try liquid stevia in tea or enjoy whole-food options like dates with almond butter. Coffee can also irritate the gut lining—pay attention to how it affects your symptoms. If you need to soothe your stomach immediately, consider peppermint tea.

Step 5: Try Soothing Naturally

1. Iberogast: 20 drops with or before meals, or when needed
2. Baking soda: 1⁄2 tsp in 4oz water up to every 2 hrs (max: 7 doses/24 hrs), “Alka Seltzer Gold”. For immediate relief.
3. Ginger: follow label dosing (capsules, tincture, tea, candy chews). Note: can cause acid reflux/ginger burn- treat by drinking water or baking soda (see above)

Step 5: Differentiate Between Reflux and Ulcers

Heartburn can come from very different root causes:

• Ulcers may be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection or medications. Testing with a stool test can confirm H. pylori.

• Reflux/GERD without ulcers may actually be linked to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), where bacteria migrate into the upper GI tract and cause inflammation and reflux-like symptoms.

Unfortunately, most conventional treatment stops at prescribing PPIs or H2-blockers, which suppress acid but don’t address underlying infections or imbalances. Long-term, this can worsen hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), increase risk of SIBO, and impair nutrient absorption.

Additional Considerations

• Melatonin at low doses may strengthen the LES and improve motility.

• Probiotic yogurt (especially long-fermented strains like L. reuteri) can help rebalance the gut and support immunity.

• Biofilm disruptors may be needed if H. pylori or other pathogens are hiding in protective layers. Functional protocols like CellCore’s Para products have been reported to help address H. pylori and co-infections.

• Wheat and grains (especially gliadin) can trigger autoimmune gastritis, which destroys acid-producing cells in the stomach. Going grain-free can help restore gut balance and reduce reflux triggers.

When to Seek Professional Support

If you’ve tried simple changes, acidifying before meals, enzymes, reducing sugar, and avoiding water with food, and still struggle, it may be time to investigate deeper. Testing for H. pylori, SIBO, or even autoimmunity (autoimmune gastritis, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) with the support of a functional nutritionist or your healthcare provider can save years of symptom management and get to the root cause.

Key Takeaways

• Low stomach acid, not high, is often the real cause of reflux.

• Start simple: stop water with meals, support acid before eating, add enzymes, and cut sugar.

• Soothe naturally

• Rule out ulcers and test for H. pylori or SIBO if symptoms persist.

• Avoid long-term acid suppression (PPIs, H2-blockers) without exploring root causes.

Resources & References

Candida and Other Infections

Food Sensitivities

Make your own Super SIBO yogurt

Diarrhea or Constipation? Consider these tips

• Davis, W. (2025, September 7). H. pylori, hypochlorhydria, and gastritis. Undoctored Inner Circle. Retrieved from https://innercircle.drdavisinfinitehealth.com/advanced_h_pylori_hypochlorhydria_gastritis 

• Liao, L., Su, B. B., & Xu, S. P. (2023). Helicobacter pylori infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Microbiology, 23(1), 386. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-03063-w 

• Rezaie, A., Buresi, M., Lembo, A., Lin, H., McCallum, R., Rao, S., Schmulson, M., Valdovinos, M., Zakko, S., Pimentel, M. (2017). Hydrogen and methane-based breath testing in gastrointestinal disorders: The North American Consensus. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 112(5), 775–784. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7238915/ 

• Siebecker, A. (2020, January). SIBO Information. Retrieved from https://www.siboinfo.com 

• Nakayama, A. (n.d.). Functional Nutrition Alliance handouts on GERD and upper GI distress. Portland, OR: Functional Nutrition Alliance.

• Parker, P. (n.d.). Drinking water protocols for digestive health.

• CellCore Biosciences. (n.d.). Practitioner guide. Meridian, ID: CellCore Biosciences.