Einstein is regarded as a genius, and he also had a rather unique diet.
For centuries, the world has celebrated Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, as one of the greatest minds ever produced by Earth.
Einstein’s dietary habits led to various digestive issues. (Photo: Onmanorama).
Despite his intelligence, Einstein had a common weakness: he often forgot even the smallest things, including meals. This habit resulted in various health issues, particularly related to his digestive system.
Standard Breakfast
Einstein typically ate at least two fried eggs for breakfast.
Whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day remains a topic of debate. However, Einstein certainly understood the importance of fueling his brain before starting a new day.
Herta Waldow, the housekeeper who lived with Einstein, revealed that the physics genius often ate at least two fried eggs for breakfast. Occasionally, he would also include mushrooms and honey, as he had a particular fondness for these foods.
“He could eat mushrooms three meals a day,” Herta noted.
In his biography of Einstein, Walter Isaacson mentioned that Einstein’s wife, Elsa, prepared breakfast for him that included eggs, butter, and bread. Thus, toast could also be a part of Einstein’s breakfast.
This made Einstein’s breakfast quite stable in terms of nutrition. It consisted of eggs rich in protein and minerals like iron, selenium, and phosphorus; while mushrooms provided various B vitamins and antioxidants.
Often Overlooked Lunch
This image evokes a quick meal for the busy physicist.
Compared to breakfast, lunch was less frequent in Einstein’s daily life. In 1915, he wrote a letter to his second son, Hans Albert Einstein, admitting: “I often get so absorbed in work that I forget to have lunch.”
In Isaacson’s book, he recounts a story about an 8-year-old girl named Adelaide, who was Einstein’s neighbor. She often visited Einstein for help with math problems and sometimes brought friends to engage in lively discussions with the scientist.
According to Adelaide, she and her friends were once invited by Einstein to share a simple lunch consisting of red beans from a food can. This image brings to mind a quick meal for the American physicist, who was often too busy with his work.
Healthy Dinner
Despite a relatively simple and healthy diet, Einstein often faced stomach problems.
Even as a unique genius, Einstein maintained a fairly simple diet, if not extremely healthy. In his book, Isaacson reveals that Einstein’s dinners typically included sausages, Gruyere cheese, fruit, and tea.
This was disclosed by several scientists who were friends of Einstein and were often invited to his home for dinner. Despite this basic and healthy diet, Einstein frequently encountered stomach issues, which seemed to worsen over time.
About a year before his death, a doctor advised Einstein to completely eliminate meat, fats, and alcohol from his diet. However, his vegetarian regime lasted only a brief year.
In April 1955, Einstein passed away from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. While his diet may not have been the main cause, his habits and lifestyle likely played a significant role.
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