Key Takeaways
- Sourdough contains prebiotics that can support your gut health by nourishing beneficial bacteria.
- Eggs and sourdough provide a balanced mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates for sustained energy.
- Eating only eggs and sourdough for breakfast may mean missing out on essential nutrients.
A TikTok user recently shared that she’s eating only eggs and sourdough every morning for breakfast to improve her health. While this combination does provide some health benefits, Experts say it’s low in fiber and lacks many vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, and seeds.
This Breakfast Combo Could Support Gut Health
This can be a healthy breakfast option, especially if the sourdough is whole grain, vegetables are added, and a healthy fat like avocado or extra virgin olive oil is included, said Julia Zumpano, RD, a dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.
It may also have gut health benefits. “Sourdough contains prebiotics, which feed the good bacteria in your gut, which leads to a healthier gut microbiome,” Zumpano said. “The fermentation in sourdough can lead to decreased bloating, gas, and discomfort, as well as improved digestion.”
It May Help Keep Your Energy Steady
Eggs and sourdough provide a good balance of macronutrients. “This breakfast can support steady energy because it combines protein, fat, and carbohydrate,” Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN, a New York-based dietitian, told Verywell.
“Eggs provide high-quality protein and nutrients, while sourdough supplies carbohydrates for energy,” Gans added.
It Can Improve Nutrient Absorption
“Sourdough is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and protein,” Zumpano said.
“The fermentation reduces phytates, which can interfere with nutrient absorption, and it helps release minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium, and calcium, making it easier for your body to absorb them.”
Eggs, too, contain nutrients, including choline, Gans said.
The Downsides of Eating Eggs and Sourdough Every Morning
If you’re going to eat the same thing every morning, you may need to turbocharge the rest of your meals. “The concern isn’t the breakfast itself, but what’s missing over the rest of the day,” Gans said.
If you’re someone who usually skips breakfast, eating eggs and sourdough every morning could be a good way to settle into a routine. But if you already eat breakfast daily and switch up your favorite meals, this trend may limit your nutrient intake.
“Eggs and sourdough are low in fiber and don’t provide many vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, and seeds, so if those foods aren’t included elsewhere, nutrient gaps can develop,” she said.
There are other drawbacks as well. “Eggs are high in cholesterol; therefore, I advise most of my patients to limit their intake to one to two eggs per day, much less for those with high cholesterol,” Zumpano said.