ARE YOU BELCHING TOO MUCH?

IT’S normal to burp three or four times after a meal — it’s often a sign you’ve swallowed too much air, explains consultant gastroenterologist Dr Ana Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Love Your Gut campaign. ‘Most people who burp have just swallowed too much air by eating and drinking at the same time, rushing their food and eating on the hoof.’

People who are anxious or who have badly fitting false teeth — which cause them to chew in an abnormal way — can also swallow too much air. The timing of burps can also be significant, says upper gastrointestinal surgeon Nicholas Boyle. Burps immediately after meals are more likely to be caused by swallowing air, and those more than half an hour later are more likely to be as a result of an underlying condition.