Breakfast Cereal: The Anti-Masturbatory Morning Meal

The Unconventional Sexual Beliefs and Accidental Innovation of John Harvey Kellogg

John Harvey Kellogg, a doctor and businessman, is credited with inventing the first dry, flaked breakfast cereal. However, the reasons behind his invention were a bit more complex than simply creating a tasty breakfast option.

Kellogg strongly advocated for a healthy, vegetarian lifestyle and believed a bland diet would promote better digestion and overall health. He saw traditional breakfast options as too rich and sugary. The story goes that while experimenting with creating healthy food for patients at his sanitarium, Kellogg accidentally rolled out some too-thin dough. These "flakes" were then baked and became the base for what would become cornflakes (corn being substituted later). So, Kellogg's invention of cornflakes stemmed from a combination of health-focused ideals, some unusual beliefs, and some accidental innovation.

More interestingly, Kellogg also held some unconventional views on sexuality, believing bland food could help curb "unnatural urges" like masturbation. This is a less emphasized aspect of the story now!

Watch what PhD candidate and Kinky History author Esmé Louise James has to say about Kellogg's anti-masturbatory plan (you must be logged into TiKTok to view)

John Harvey Kellogg's views on sexuality were quite unconventional, even by the standards of his time (late 19th and early 20th centuries). Here's a deeper look into his beliefs and the bizarre connection he saw between food and sexual desire:

• Kellogg was a devout Seventh-day Adventist, a Christian denomination that emphasized healthy living and sexual abstinence outside of marriage. This religious background heavily influenced his views on sexuality.
• Kellogg, along with many others in the Victorian era, saw masturbation as a grave social evil that could lead to physical and mental health problems. This belief was largely unfounded and based on limited scientific understanding.
• Kellogg believed that a bland, vegetarian diet could reduce sexual desire, particularly masturbation.
• He thought stimulating foods like spicy dishes or decadent desserts could "excite the passions." This stemmed from a misunderstanding of human physiology and the complex factors influencing sexual behavior.
• In Kellogg's mind, bland and unappetizing breakfast cereals like cornflakes could help control sexual urges by reducing overall dietary stimulation.

It's important to note that modern medical professionals and social scientists have widely criticized Kellogg's views on sexuality as inaccurate and harmful. His focus on controlling behavior through diet was misguided and ultimately ineffective. His unconventional beliefs about sexuality are seen mainly as a product of his time and not considered medically valid.

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