The fascinating eating habits of Albert Einstein

The world hails Albert Einstein, the iconic theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, as one the most brilliant minds that ever lived on earth. Many scientists and researchers have tried to uncover the secret behind the unique intellectual capacity of this genius. It must be the incredibly unique brain activities that made him different and special.

The scientific community is still in awe about the countless inventions and discoveries made by Einstein who is not known to have followed any special diet or food habits. Though highly intelligent, Einstein too had a weakness that most of us often complain about. It was difficult for him to remember even the smallest things and often forgot to eat too. This has caused many health issues especially intestinal problems for Einstein.

Not many details are known about the food habits of Einstein, who mesmerized the world with his incredible discoveries about the speed of light. It is only from a few letters that Einstein wrote that we get a very minimal idea about his food habits. These letters are preserved at many archives around the world.

It is common knowledge that Einstein was a vegetarian. It is assumed that he began following a unique diet and eating order, in the 1920’s, after he was diagnosed with some health issues. However, there are no documents that reveal the exact year in which he switched to vegetarianism. In a letter sent to the Vegetarian Watch, in 1930, Einstein raves about the benefits of vegetarian diet and how much he enjoys it. However, he rues that he had to eat meat due to external compulsion, many a times. He stated that vegetarianism would positively influence not just the life style of an individual but would have great impact on the entire mankind itself.

However, it has also been revealed that he turned to strict vegetarianism only a year before he died. This is quite evident from a few letters that he had sent to his friends. There is absolutely no doubt that Einstein preferred a vegetarian diet in the last few years of his life. Albert Einstein had died in 1955. A year ago, in a letter dated 30th March 1954, he wrote, “There is no fat, meat or fish in my life anymore. It actually feels great. Man shouldn’t be born a meat eater.” Meanwhile, in another letter written a year before that, in 1953, Einstein regretted that he still ate meat and fish.