Enriched, Fortified, Refined... what do these food labels mean?

When we began working on eating healthier, we started noticing "enriched" "fortified" and "refined" labeled on food. We did a little research to better understand what was in the foods we were eating.   

Here's what we found out:

"Refined" Foods - refined foods are highly processed foods that have been stripped of their original nutrient content and fiber. (Examples: white flour, white pasta)

"Enriched" Foods - in enriched foods, vitamins and minerals are added to replace the original vitamins and minerals that were lost during the refining process. (Examples: breads, pasta)

"Fortified" Foods - in fortified foods, vitamins and minerals have been added to food in addition to the levels that were originally found before the food was refined.  When foods are fortified, they will have more vitamins and minerals than before they were refined.  (Examples: milk, salt)

Enriched and fortified foods are refined food with added vitamins and minerals. 

**Refined foods lack the good stuff**

During the refining process, nutrients are lost, valuable fibers are removed, and what is left behind is a bland, nutrient deficient, high calorie food.  Food manufactures enrich or fortify their foods to add nutritional value to their (usually high-in-sugar-content) products and labels. 

Keep in mind that these vitamins and minerals added back may be less than what was lost in the refining process.  And your body may not be able to even absorb the benefits of the vitamins and minerals!

We encourage you to look for these labels and think twice about what they mean exactly.  There may be a more "whole" food option.