Are you Refined? Is your Food Refined?

Do you have manners and etiquette, speak eloquently and thoughtfully, use a rich vocabulary, dress stylishly and wear tasteful clothing; have poise, grace and self control especially under pressure? Do you appreciate art, literature, and music? You are a refined person, my friend!

But what if you were a food? What would it mean to be REFINED? To be a refined food, you would be altered from your natural state by having most of your fiber, vitamins and minerals removed and replaced with synthetic substances like preservatives, artificial ingredients and artificial flavors. Thus the word refined, when it comes to food, doesn’t sound that great, does it?

Refined food, often known as processed food, is a term you’ve likely heard before. But do you really understand what makes food processed and how it impacts your health? There are specific reasons behind refining or processing food, and they have significant effects on your well-being. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of processed foods and uncover the truth behind their transformation!

Why do we need to refine food?

Food is refined in factories for convenience. Factories can take three simple basic ingredients, mix in emulsifiers, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors, create a uniform paste or dough, run the paste through machines that shape it into an impressive assortment of desired forms such as cereals, crackers, chips, or cookies. But wait, there’s more! Additional preservatives, flavor enhancers, and coatings are added to extend shelf life and improve taste. I challenge you to go to a grocery store, pick three different packaged products, and look at the ingredients. You will most always find same three ingredients: refined flour, refined sugar, and refined seed oils in seeminlgy different products. I hope you accept the challenge!

Why these 3 particular ingredients?

The answer to this, once again, is convenience. The easiest and most convenient foods to refine are grains (into flour), sugars (into high-fructose corn syrup and white sugar), seeds oils (into canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, corn oil etc). By the way, oils chemically extracted from seeds, known as seed oils, have undergone a PR makeover to gain public acceptance and are often marketed as “vegetable oils.” Despite the name, they are not made from vegetables; they are made from seeds and extracted using harsh chemicals. However, “vegetable oils” sounds healthier.

So what are some of these convenient foods engineered by these 3 same ingredients? Wait, stop! Engineered? Yes, this word accurately reflects the highly processed and scientifically designed nature of packaged foods produced on an industrial scale. The list of these foods is very long and encompasses most pretty packages found in the grocery store aisle. They are ready-to-eat meals, breakfast cereals, snack foods, white bread, pastries, and cookies.

How exactly is food refined or processed in factories?

Food refinement and processing in factories typically involves milling for grains (ground into flour) and extraction for seed oils (extracted using chemical solvents like hexane, then refined to remove impurities, colors, and odors.) This often involves high heat and further chemical treatments. The refining process increases the shelf life of food products but at the expense of their nutritional content (less fiber, vitamins and minerals than are contained in whole foods).

So what’s the big deal?

So what’s the big deal if a person eats refined food? Well, refined food, although very convenient, is also lower in nutritional value, which means it’s not giving your body what it needs.

How do Refined (Processed) Foods Affect Our Health?

Refined foods are not the best choice for maintaining good health. Here are some reasons why:

Nutrient Loss: The refining process often removes essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
High Glycemic Index: Refined foods, particularly refined grains and sugars, tend to have a higher glycemic index. This means they cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to energy crashes and increased hunger.
Empty Calories: Refined foods often provide calories without significant nutritional benefits. They can contribute to weight gain without providing the nutrients your body needs to function optimally.
Added Sugars and Fats: Many refined foods have added sugars and unhealthy fats (seed oils), which can contribute to chronic diseases.
Lack of Satiety: Foods that are low in fiber and protein (often the case with refined foods) may not keep you feeling full for long, leading to overeating and lack of control around food.

Is it really convenient in the long run?

Is it convenient to experience blood sugar crashes when you’re supposed to be at your most productive during the day, or to constantly get hungry every couple of hours due to lack of satiety? Is it convenient to have to eat frequently because of persistent hunger? Or to constantly get sick because your body lacks the natural vitamins and minerals needed for an effective immune system? What about carrying extra weight and needing to constantly visit the doctor? And bad moods—do they add to the quality of your life? Is it fun to have to call your boss and tell them you’re calling in sick, again?

So although refined foods are convenient in some ways (less time spent preparing food and higher profits for food companies), they are not convenient in the long run because being sick, tired, overweight, and in a bad mood takes so much away from your life!

What to do now?

So, continue being a refined person, but choose to eat whole, real food. Whole food is food that hasn’t been broken down and still comes in the beautiful, natural packaging that nature designed: an apple, an egg, a potato, an avocado, a carrot, a cucumber, an olive, etc. It’s not wrapped in plastic packaging with colorful, enticing pictures. Nature's presentation is far more elegant.

You might think, “but I don’t know how to prepare food!” Well, the good news is you can learn, and you can work with a health coach to guide you through the process. That’s what health coaching is all about! We guide you through the steps, habits, and skills needed to prepare real food. All this can seem overwhelming, but by taking small steps, you can tap into real convenience: energy, health, time, drive, and good moods!

So, how many opportunities are passing you by because you're often sick, tired, and unmotivated? Let’s change that! Imagine what you could achieve with newfound energy and drive. Join the whole food movement and start transforming your life today!