Shankara20
Well, that is lovely
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Posts
- 58,546
The Graham Cracker was created to stop masturbation...
Ever wonder what they feed you all those S'mores* at kids camp-outs?
"The Graham Diet was invented around 1829 by Sylvester Graham, a self proclaimed "Physiological Reformer". It was based mainly on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole wheat and high fiber, and excluded meat and spices altogether. Very fresh milk, cheese, and eggs were permitted in moderation, and butter was to be used "very sparingly".
Graham believed that adhering to the diet would prevent people from having impure thoughts and in turn would stop masturbation (thought by Graham to be a catalyst for blindness) among other things. He was a prolific writer and speaker for his cause which was sternly opposed to "bad habits" of the body and mind. During the 1830's, the diet had a moderate response from the mostly puritanical faction of the American public...
The Graham cracker invented by its namesake as a staple for the diet is its only lasting legacy today.
Graham was also inspired by the temperance movement and preached that a vegetarian diet was a cure for alcoholism, and, more importantly, sexual urges. The main thrust of his teachings was to curb lust. While alcohol had useful medicinal qualities, it should never be abused by social drinking. For Graham, an unhealthy diet stimulated excessive sexual desire which irritated the body and caused disease. While Graham developed a significant following known as Grahamites, he was also ridiculed by the media and the public for his unwavering zealotry. According to newspaper records, many women fainted at his lectures when he aired opinions both on sexual relations and the wearing of corsets. Whether their fainting was due to the subject matter or the tight corsets they wore is still debated."
*
*S'more - a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a slab of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
What else should we all know about?
.
Ever wonder what they feed you all those S'mores* at kids camp-outs?
"The Graham Diet was invented around 1829 by Sylvester Graham, a self proclaimed "Physiological Reformer". It was based mainly on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole wheat and high fiber, and excluded meat and spices altogether. Very fresh milk, cheese, and eggs were permitted in moderation, and butter was to be used "very sparingly".
Graham believed that adhering to the diet would prevent people from having impure thoughts and in turn would stop masturbation (thought by Graham to be a catalyst for blindness) among other things. He was a prolific writer and speaker for his cause which was sternly opposed to "bad habits" of the body and mind. During the 1830's, the diet had a moderate response from the mostly puritanical faction of the American public...
The Graham cracker invented by its namesake as a staple for the diet is its only lasting legacy today.
Graham was also inspired by the temperance movement and preached that a vegetarian diet was a cure for alcoholism, and, more importantly, sexual urges. The main thrust of his teachings was to curb lust. While alcohol had useful medicinal qualities, it should never be abused by social drinking. For Graham, an unhealthy diet stimulated excessive sexual desire which irritated the body and caused disease. While Graham developed a significant following known as Grahamites, he was also ridiculed by the media and the public for his unwavering zealotry. According to newspaper records, many women fainted at his lectures when he aired opinions both on sexual relations and the wearing of corsets. Whether their fainting was due to the subject matter or the tight corsets they wore is still debated."
*
*S'more - a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a slab of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
What else should we all know about?
.