Refined Sugar

What is the definition of refined sugar? I am not trying to justify any foods I just want to make sure I am clear on what you mean by refined sugar. When it comes to food sometimes there are varying definitions. I have heard different meanings of refined sugar and organic. Thank you.

In my mind, any sugar that is removed from its natural "vessel" would be considered refined. An example would be fructose removed from corn and then used in candy. 

Table sugar (sucrose) is the canonical example. Depending on where in the world you live, it's made from either beets or sugar cane.

Maple sap is unrefined, maple syrup is refined in that most of the water has been boiled off.

Honey is unrefined, but may still have been processed (filtered, pasteurized).

Organic is a set of official rules around farming practices, and has little to do with the quality of the food.

Boki has a great explanation!

Refined sugar is exactly that. Something that has been removed from its "natural vessel" to quote Boki.

Look at cane sugar. Have you ever seen a cane sugar? The cane where the sugar is has 10 times more fiber than sugar, its when it goes through a process of juicing for lack of a better term that you get sugar out of the deal. Think about putting a whole orange into a juicer and getting out 2oz. of orange juice. Same thing. 

So any form of sweetener is a "refined sugar" in my eyes. That includes honey and all the other good sources. 

But, lets take a step back and be practical here. Thrive is one step at a time so lets not get ahead of ourselves. No where does it say do away with AM carbs (it says avoid them if you can) and same goes for sugar. Im more or less answering your questions to scratch your intellectual curiosity. Not for you to add these as steps.

Worst to least worst

1) Agave Nectar - You are a certified doof if you use agave nectar 

2) Cane sugar, brown sugar, natural sugar, etc.

3) Honey, maple syrup, etc. 

Thanks for the information

On 23/1/2016 at 1:51 PM, Jeff Serven said:

Worst to least worst

1) Agave Nectar - You are a certified doof if you use agave nectar 

2) Cane sugar, brown sugar, natural sugar, etc.

3) Honey, maple syrup, etc. 

Oh my good! I am a doof! I ve using a lot of Agave syrup because I thought it was better than sugar! It s common to find it in ecologist shops.

Yea its good marketing but the fructose content is 90% or so as oppose to 50%ish