by Pamela Gentry

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 22, 2009

Inflammation is a condition which can contribute to undesirable ailments in the human body from cancer, to heart disease and premature aging, just to name a few.

Inflammation of the skin opens the door to lines and wrinkles.

Inflammatory chemicals kick-start the aging process and encourage the body to store fats.

Inflammation occurs when insulin levels in the body are too high, or spike too quickly. In examining which foods cause inflammation in the body, the glycemic index of the food must be referenced. In addition,eating 4-5 small well-balanced meals throughout your day will help glycemic levels to stay within a target range.

Foods which have a high glycemic index, and therefore contribute to inflammation include:

(NO) Refined and packaged sugar

(NO) Bad carbohydrates such as: Pancakes, pasta, bananas, processed sugary cereals, bread and rice.

(NO) Potatoes, corn and peas

Foods which quickly boost blood sugar will create high-insulin levels. This is how eating sugar contributes to inflammation in the body.

Sugar is damaging to skin because it attaches to the proteins of collagen, causing it to cross-link. This causes the skin to become stiff and inflexible leading to the wrinkling and stiffness of old skin.

Listen to what Dr. Nicholas Perricone of The New York Times Bestselling book called, "The Wrinkle Cure," suggests in regards to eating an anti-inflammatory diet.

"Years of research have proved that the best diet formula for staving off everything from the visible effects of aging to heart disease and cancer is to eat large amounts of protein, make good choices about carbohydrates, and choose fruits and vegetables rather than refined and processed foods."

An anti-inflammatory diet includes nutrition-packed and antioxidant-rich foods.

In his book, Dr. Perricone outlines specific foods which will decrease inflammation in the body, thereby supporting general health and ultimately a more youthful appearance.

Foods which contain omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish sources such as salmon, mackerel and herring, are at the top of his list of suggestions. He claims that eating these types of fish on a regular basis can do wonders for the appearance of your skin.

One teaspoon of olive oil at each meal is also recommended by Dr. Perricone. He also stresses the importance of consuming 8-10 glasses of fresh, clean water every day to help metabolic function and improve skin tone.

He encourages the consumption of

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