“Excuse me!” or “Maafkan saya!” is what most Malaysians would say after unintentionally letting out a guttural-sounding burp at the dining table.

Burping is a bodily function that people consider to be ill behaviour, but most still see the funny side of it and burst into laughter at the distinct sound.

It mostly boils down to who you’re with and where you’re at when you burp.

Burping at a fancy dinner party will earn you cold stares but doing so at a rowdy bar will likely get chuckles and guffaws from your fellow patrons.

But what exactly is a burp? And is releasing gas from your mouth the same as releasing gas from your rear?

After all, they seem to be coming from opposing ends of your body, though burps lack the pong a fart can pack.

The science behind a burp

When you eat, you may swallow air with your food and these gases will eventually reappear from your gut, exiting your system as a burp.

Drinking fizzy drinks will also result in an increase of gas in your gut. Carbonated drinks and beer contain high amounts of carbon dioxide that will exit your system through your mouth in the form of a burp.

Drinking hot drinks also causes one to swallow more air along with the drink.

Most of the time, the gases don’t make it to your stomach and will instead linger in your oesophagus until they are released back out without a sound.

To burp less, eat smaller portions and take your time chewing your food. It also may help to be at a healthy weight as being tubby adds more pressure on your stomach.

However, it should be noted that burping could possibly be a symptom of stomach ulcers.

If you are burping more frequently and feel incredibly bloated after consuming fatty foods, there’s a strong chance you have an open sore in your stomach lining.

Eating may also result in painful stomach sensations. But don’t fret too much about it, as medication is available for stomach ulcers.

What increases your chances of burping

What you eat will affect the frequency of your burping. Lactose intolerant people may burp after eating dairy products as the lactose ferments in their stomach, producing gas.

Eating foods with high acidity such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and onions can cause burps that will leave the back of your throat feeling burnt.

Strangely enough, burping may also be a sign that you’re stressed out. When you are worried, you may gulp a lot and inadvertently take in lots of air which may re-emerge as burps.

Burping ain’t so bad

But while the act of burping is frowned upon in some cultures, it is actually encouraged in others.

In China and Taiwan for instance, burping is a form of flattery for the chef as it means you immensely enjoyed the food you were served.

And in parts of India, burping at the table is commonplace and acceptable as well.

Given that burping is simply a natural bodily function that is part of the digestive process, perhaps the stigma towards burping should be reconsidered.