The reason Corn Flakes were invented will make you re-think your childhood

Cereal is a beautiful thing, but it turns out Corn Flakes (aka what your parents bought you INSTEAD of Froot Loops or Coco Pops) have a disturbing origin story.

Back in the 1800's, when all things sexual were seen as the root (heh) of all evil, there were several methods of preventing people acting on their primal desires...yes, we're talking about the ol' pull and tug, flicking the bean, waxing the car (okay we made that last one up).

Yep, back when masturbation was heavily frowned upon, cornflakes were made in an attempt to curb sexual appetite. You see, in the beginning of the anti-masturbation movement, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (yeah, that guy) believed that a bland diet of grains, nuts, and cereal could prevent the unspeakable abomination that is wanking yourself off. And so, Corn Flakes were born. 

We'll never look at Kelloggs the same again.