Refined vs. Unrefined Carbohydrates
It is important to note that since the late 19th century, many carbohydrate foods have been altered. Today, we speak of refined or unrefined foods. Refined foods have been mechanically striped down into smaller parts. These smaller parts are then used to create common foods in a way that is more appealing, but often less healthy and disease-promoting in some way.
Unrefined foods are in their original state and contain all of their original components. Carbohydrates are one of the primary food groups that have been substantially changed. Because of this alteration, the effect of refined carbohydrates on our bodies is very different than the effect of the unrefined whole form. Without the fiber, refined carbohydrates digest more like simple carbohydrates, causing a much faster rise in blood sugar than more complex unrefined form.
