Inflammation, both acute and chronic, is a ubiquitous feature of human life. Acute inflammation is necessary for normal physiological processes. Chronic inflammation is not. It is the one common denominator linking various chronic illnesses. Diet plays a vital role in over-stimulation of the inflammatory process. Carbohydrates introduce glucose into the blood stream, allowing the body to utilize the multiple forms of this molecule for energetic purposes. However, too much dietary glucose can cause a condition called "hyperglycemia" within the blood. Glucose concentrations ranging from 15 mmol/l glucose to 33 mmol/l glucose (in comparison to normal circulating levels of 5.5 mmol/l) studied gave correlating evidence of increased inflammatory proteins, cytokines. Cytokines perpetuate the inflammatory process via stimulation and promotion of one specific cytokine: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha. Two different receptors were identified for TNF-α with the p55 receptor significant to inflammation. The stimulated inflammatory process associated with TNF-α is outlined in this review alongside dietary alterations directed toward reducing inflammation.