The psychology of eating a tomato

If your skin is prone to outbreaks and dryness, you may want to consider eating tomato as a natural remedy. Sounds like a turn off (I think most people, including myself, don't like the taste of it)? Not to worry, it's a matter of mind over body; I'll share with you how I eat a RAW tomato in this post.

The tomato is one of the greatest gifts from nature and it's thanks to the chockful of antioxidants in them. If you just do a quick search on Google, you'll find tons of review raving about its goodness, and I am no exception. It is high in Vitamins C and A, both of which are known to be essential elements to good skin, and rich concentration of lycopene. Check out WHFoods for more information.

I used to have pretty bad and sensitive skin and whenever I take chocolates, biscuits or what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors/sinseh would term 'heaty' food, I'll have an outbreak and dry skin. That's really sad isn't it. Hence, for a period of time, I had to forgo eating my favourite snacks because my skin condition was getting worse.

I saw a dermatologist but the cream and medication prescribed weren't of much help. That's when I thought I should heal from within the body. A friend of mine recommended me to eat a tomato everyday. "OMG, are you serious?" was my first thought. While I love tomato sauce (ketchup), I don't think the tomato is one of the tastiest food around. But I've managed to overcome the psychological barrier of eating a raw tomato. Here's how:

Step 1: Bring the tomato close to your mouth. Smell it. (Honestly, an unpeeled tomato doesn't smell much so don't worry).

Step 2: Talk to the tomato. Tell it: "Thank you for giving me good skin." Kiss it. It's all about psychoing yourself to like it.

Step 3: Bite into the tomato. By this time, you'll get a whiff of nature and possibly a repulsive indescribable sour taste. Oh, and mind the juice!

Step 4: Your tongue may ask you to stop, but your mind gotta stay strong. Tell yourself: just swallow it! Forget the taste, I can do it!

Step 5: Keep thinking "this will give me good skin" and will yourself to take the next bite.

Step 6: A mouthful by a mouthful, finish the tomato.

It's really doable if you put your mind to it. Nowadays, I have pretty smooth skin and I still get to enjoy my chocolates and biscuits with no worries. Just one tomato a day for about 3 weeks and you should start seeing results. It's not so difficult; it's boils down to the habit of the mind. Nowadays, I eat tomato as a snack and though I still don't like the taste of it, I just eat it without thinking too much about it. Hail the tomato!

Before I end, let me share a riddle with you:

Chilli sauce and tomato sauce were running together. What did chilli sauce say to tomato sauce when tomato sauce was falling behind?

Ans: Catch up! (ketchup)

Cheers!