Graham bread was invented by Sylvester Graham in 1829 for his vegetarian diet. The Graham bread was high in fiber, made with non-sifted whole-wheat flour.
Graham created a bread free from the chemical additives that were common in white bread at that time such as alum and chlorine. He argued that these chemical additives were unwholesome in that they increased the sex drive, which would in turn deplete the body.
While Graham's specific theories on the dangers of "venereal excess" have no scientific footing, he was correct in his broader stance against additives as both alum and chlorine are now known to be toxic. The use of additives by bakeries was a common practice during the Industrial Revolution to make bread whiter in color and more commercially appealing. Refined bread was a status symbol of the middle class because of its "purity and refinement" in its color and was purchased, rather than home-made.
Famous quotes containing the words graham and/or bread:
“Scatter my ashes, strew them in the air:
Lord since thou know’st where all these atoms are,
I’m hopeful thou’lt recover once my dust,
And confident thou’lt raise me with the just.”
—James Graham Marquess of Montrose (1612–1650)
“Each [side in this war] looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)