Tag: Temperance movement

Did you know that the original graham cracker was created not as a sweet treat, but as a bland dietary supplement? This surprising fact underpins the complex and puritanical philosophy behind what were Sylvester Graham's beliefs, a 19th-century Presbyterian minister who saw a direct link between diet, physical health, and moral purity.

Over 40% of adults globally reported not drinking alcohol in the past 12 months, and for some, this is a conscious, long-term choice. This practice, often confused with the phrase 'tea total,' is actually known as teetotalism, which means total abstinence from all alcoholic beverages. The term's origins are rooted in a historical movement, and its modern-day practice reflects a variety of personal convictions, health goals, and lifestyle choices.

In the 19th century, a popular minister and health reformer named Sylvester Graham developed a set of dietary and lifestyle beliefs that would become known as the Graham cracker theory. This theory posited that a bland, high-fiber, vegetarian diet—including his signature unsweetened cracker—could help temper lustful urges and curb masturbation.