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Social media users discover why graham crackers were invented

graham crackersDiscover the unexpected origins of graham crackers, invented to curb sexual desires. A 19th-century minister's quest for moral purity.
January 21, 2025
Pooja Mamnoor - LA Post

Social media users are just discovering the unexpected origins of graham crackers, a snack invented by a 19th-century Presbyterian minister to suppress sexual desires and promote moral purity.

Recent posts on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, have reignited interest in the history of these widely consumed crackers. Sylvester Graham created them as part of his broader mission to combat what he perceived as society's moral decline through dietary reform.

"I need you all to go Google why graham crackers were invented," wrote one social media user on X, highlighting the renewed public interest in the story. Another user summarized the revelation: "Just discovered Graham Crackers were invented by a Presbyterian minister to cure licentiousness. A lot of y'all need to start eating Graham Crackers."

According to historians, Graham developed these crackers in 1829 as part of his crusade against what he considered excessive sexual desires. Adam D. Shprintzen, author of "The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921," explained that Graham believed strongly in controlling carnal urges through diet.

Social media users discover why graham crackers were invented

"He was on a strong anti-masturbation crusade. He said, 'If you're eating meat, you're acting like an animal, and you should avoid those types of primal instincts — like the urge to have sex,'" Shprintzen told The Post.

Photo by Getty Images

The original graham cracker bore little resemblance to today's sweet snack. It was deliberately crafted as a bland, dry biscuit made from unbleached wheat flour and coarsely ground wheat bran. The honey-sweetened version was transformed after Nabisco acquired the brand in the 1890s.

Graham's dietary philosophy extended beyond his namesake crackers. He established one of America's first vegetarian movements, advocating for a simple, meat-free diet. He believed that certain foods, including meat, coffee, and spices, stimulated sexual desires and should be avoided.

His teachings gained a dedicated following known as Grahamites, who adhered to what became known as the "Graham Diet." This regime consisted primarily of tasteless, whole-grain bread and starches, while prohibiting meat, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. His followers believed this diet could address various ailments, from depression to nervousness.

Shprintzen, who also serves as a professor of history at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, noted that despite Graham's unconventional beliefs, some of his dietary principles proved prescient. "As warped as he was, from a medical standpoint, he was ahead of his game in some ways. We know now that diet is connected to physical health, and too much meat and alcohol is not good for us," he said.

Graham's lectures and teachings were not without controversy. His frank discussions about sexual repression and dietary reform sparked protests from butchers and bakers who viewed his health movement as a threat to their livelihoods. Many men found his public discussions of sexual matters particularly objectionable, especially when women were present.

Contemporary social media reactions to this historical revelation range from fascination to amusement. One X user wrote, "Wow. This is a wild little rabbit hole. Of course, it seems to be a little more complicated than that. Graham Crackers appear to have been a part of a balanced total diet intended to reduce sexual urges. And it should be noted that that diet was also vegetarian."

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