![]()
I'll be the first to admit I'm quite impartial to random (and often sketchy) miracle foods or diets that promise "amazing" results. Hyperbole aside, I've always felt it was slightly inane that a particular food could suddenly and definitively alter one's life.
So it was with slight — okay, very much — doubt that I decided to take on the
Zespri 14-day Sungold Kiwifruit Challenge, in hopes that I would feel markedly more energised and rejuvenated, as they had blatantly promised. Basically, all I had to do was eat one Zespri Sungold Kiwi per day for 14 days. Easy.
Here are the three things I found myself thinking about after 14 days:
1. I never knew how hella tired I usually am![]()
That used to be my previous state at work. It wasn't that I was out partying till the wee hours of the morn; rather, that I simply had difficulty functioning in the morning. After lunch, I would battle the inevitable food coma too. Clearly, I was still productive, but that didn't come without much work on my part to stay alert.
After a few days on the Sungold Kiwifruit challenge, I felt mentally more alert; my body felt healthier; and I was able to bang out a few more paragraphs each day for the articles I was working on. Not just did my productivity level at work increase, I was also able to head home after a long day and still have energy to catch up on some reading before bed. (Previously, I would nod off super quick because I was always so drained from the day.)
It wasn't that I had altered my lifestyle in any other way, except for eating one Sungold Kiwifruit a day, and yet the difference in my physical and mental state was quite noticeable.
![]()
Ok maybe not like that.
2. There must be a drug in these glorious Sungold Kiwifruits
The first time I dug into a kiwi was a few years ago. It was not a memorable experience, and I never developed a subsequent liking for the green stuff. So, you can understand why I didn't expect to be blown away when I dipped my spoon into the Zespri's Sungold Kiwifruit.
Boy, was I so flippin' wrong.
![]()
IT WAS DELICIOUS. (No, I am not obliged nor paid to say this.)
But, wait, it couldn't be that something so nutritious was simply so darn delicious right? There had to be a catch somewhere. I decided to do my research on the fruit.
![]()
And here's what I found about the Sungold Kiwifruit:
- The fruit is sweeter than its green cousin, while also being a healthier alternative to snacks.
- It packs exceptionally high levels of Vitamin C (three times more than oranges) and Vitamin E (seven times more than apples and oranges).
- It contains enough Vitamin C to last the entire day, which means you will be way less tired and fatigued.
- It's super sweet, so you're not just getting your nutrients, you're also enjoying the process.
- The fruit aided my bowel movement, which was a pleasant surprise.
Essentially, what these health facts mean is that a single scoop of the Zespri Sungold Kiwifruit provides more nutrients than other common fruit, and you'd be remiss to think that it was just too good to be true.
It truly is quite everything it promises to be.
3. No miracle food works if you don't ![]()
This was probably the most valuable lesson I learnt. Sure, it sounds like something you can read in a health brochure or a fitspo site, but I think it should be reiterated, simply because it's something most people tend to shrug off.
For example, if you've been leading a sluggish life and are constantly ingesting copious amounts of carbs, caffeine and sugar, it's unlikely that the Zespri Sungold Kiwifruit will change your life. Instead, if you want a healthier you, be prepared to proceed with the works — exercise, healthier diet, good sleep, cutting out harmful addictions, etc.
I learnt that instead of letting this Zespri 14-day challenge be a life-changing moment in itself (which it wasn't), I should let it spur me on to greater fitness heights.
In fact, this brief brush with fitness motivated me to sign up for the Shape run this August. Yep, my first ever marathon. I AM A CHANGED WOMAN.
![]()
P.S. The hardest part of the challenge? Keeping intake to one kiwi per day. It was
that tasty.
Photos: tumblr
