Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – especially if you’re headed into space.
However, astronauts have revealed why their Breakfast of Champions is an American classic high in fat, low in fiber, and consistently linked to heart disease.
In 1961, Alan Shepard made history as the first American in space, orbiting partly around the Earth.
As the first US astronaut to go into outer space, he was also responsible for starting traditions, even when it came to his breakfast.
Instead of traditionally healthier options like fruit and whole-grain toast, Shepard chose steak and eggs before launch.
Shortly after, in 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins all followed suit before staking America’s claim on the moon.
But American tradition isn’t the main reason astronauts pick steak and eggs.
NASA picked the meal due because it’s high in protein and low in fiber, which helps astronauts stay full longer without needing to go to the bathroom during a flight.
Alan Shepard, pictured here, made history in 1961 as the first American in space. He also pioneered the astronaut tradition of eating steak and eggs for breakfast
Astronauts have historically chosen steak and eggs because the dish is high in protein but low in fiber. This keeps them full for longer but limits bowel movements
Steak and eggs are two of the most protein-rich foods.
One serving of steak, about three and a half ounces, contains 25 grams of protein, and one large eggs has an extra six grams.
Health officials recommend consuming 0.36 grams of protein per pound of weight.
This means a person who weighs 140 pounds should eat about 53 grams of protein every day.
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Protein helps reduce levels of ghrelin, a hormone that controls hunger, and boosts levels of peptide YY, a hormone that increases satiety or fullness.
This means protein-rich foods are more likely to keep people full for longer amounts of time.
Astronauts have limited storage space for food in their aircrafts, so being able to eat fewer meals to stay full is likely ideal for them.
Additionally, neither steak nor eggs contain any fiber.
Fiber normally adds bulk to stools, making them easier to pass and leading to more frequent bowel movements.
Not getting enough fiber leads to difficulty passing bowel movements.
This is ideal for astronauts not only because they may need to sit for long periods of time, but bathroom breaks are far from simple in space.
Pictured above are astronauts currently stranded on the International Space Station sharing a meal
On the International Space Station, for example, there are only three specialized toilets, which use a vacuum system to suck waste away.
The ISS usually has anywhere from three to 13 astronauts on board at any given time, meaning there short and limited bathroom breaks can keep bathrooms from getting backed up.
Steak and eggs have notoriously been linked to chronic diseases like heart disease due to high saturated fat content potentially blocking arteries.
One study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for example, found eating red meat every day truples the amount of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the gut, a chemical thought to increase cholesterol.
However, astronauts largely rely on rehydrated and pantry foods while in space, so it’s unlikely steak and eggs is everyday cuisine.
