Hey, Dr. Brown here.

If coffee is the first thing you drink every morning, this is for you.

Coffee isn’t bad. I drink coffee too. But for some people, coffee on an empty stomach can be rough because it can increase acid and trigger reflux, nausea, irritation, or that shaky mid-morning crash.

Here’s the simple morning gut routine:

Before coffee, put something small in your stomach.

It doesn’t need to be a full breakfast. Try a little protein first - eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, a protein shake, turkey, or even a few bites of leftovers.

Then have your coffee.

If coffee gives you burning, reflux, nausea, or stomach discomfort, avoid drinking it black on an empty stomach. Give your stomach a little buffer first.

And don’t forget water. Drink some before or with your coffee so your gut isn’t starting the day dry.

Simple version:

Protein first. Water early. Coffee after.

That one small change can make coffee feel a lot better on your stomach.