by Audrey-Anastasia Alleyne

Created on: August 15, 2008

Diet and stress are the two major causes of inflammation in our bodies. Foods that we eat can be either pro-inflammatory (they provide an inflammatory response); or anti-inflammatory (they suppress the inflammatory response.) Pro-inflammatory foods are those that cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, resulting in the release of insulin into the bloodstream. Such foods are potatoes, breads, pastries, juice, chips and rice cakes.

Sugar can be toxic. Ingesting sugar causes a rise in blood sugar, resulting in a burst of inflammatory chemicals that spread through our bodies. The inflammation caused, produces enzymes which break down collagen resulting in wrinkles. This causes us to age prematurely in both mind and body. In order to prevent chronic inflammation, we must avoid foods that cause elevated levels of sugar. Luckily, diet like stress is controllable.

The vast increase in chemicals in our environment, foods and medicines has greatly altered our body's ability to rid themselves of toxins. According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone in his book The Perricone Promise, "mercury found in fish, dioxin sprayed on coffee fields, arsenic in some types of rice and salt and cadmium in coffee, are examples of chemicals found in our water, food and the air we breathe." Dr. Perricone goes on to say that "the greater the number of toxins retained by the body, the greater the chances they will cause inflammation, whether deep inside or on the surface of the skin."

Inflammation, Dr. Perricone believes "is the basis of aging and diverse degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and autoimmune diseases." The same diseases, he says "also affects the skin in outbreak of problems such as acne, eczema and shingles and they're what give us wrinkles as well."

Detoxing the body is a good way to assist it in cleansing and restoring itself. Examine your diet to determine whether or not it is carrying more toxins than it is built to handle. Then, you can decide whether or not a detox diet is necessary. Do you regularly consume the following?
Sugary snacks
Tea and Coffee
Alcohol
Canned food
Fried food
Smoked or Cured meat or fish
Fast food
Tap water
Fluoridated water
Water supplied through ld (non-organic0 fruit, vegetables and meat

If the answer to most of these is yes, then you need to reduce consumption of toxins with a detox diet, and so reduce the incidence of chronic inflammation.

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