What is unrefined and refined foods? Solution Answer: Refined foods undergo undergone manufacturing or repackaging processes. They are the foods altered from their original state. Foods are sometimes refined to enhance the texture, and/or to increase their shelf life. Sometimes they are added with additives also. Example: Refined wheat flour, which is polished to remove the bran. During this process a number of essential nutrients are lost. Unrefined foods are unprocessed, they are not entirely altered in their nutritional value. Whole wheat flour will have everything that a wheat grain has. Fibers, carbohydrates and proteins. Also Vitamins on the outer wheat bran also retained. In comparison, unrefined foods absorbed slowly while refined foods quickly. Refined foods are unhealthy since they are linked with diseases related to absorption and metabolism..