Kellogg firmly believed that masturbation caused many ailments, including memory loss, poor digestion, and even insanity. One of the methods Kellogg suggested for deterring this act was to eat a bland diet. Supposedly, eating bland foods would not incite passions, whereas spicy or well-seasoned foods would cause a reaction in people’s sexual organs that incited them to masturbate.
Kellogg believed that artificial foods were to blame for America’s indigestion problems. Only through increased exercise, more bathing, and a bland, vegetarian diet could people be healthy. Thus,
the corn flake cereal was born in the 1890s to ease digestion issues, simplify breakfast and stop masturbation.