WELLNESS

Young people now 'prefer protein shakes to boozing' as Generation Z gets healthy

The days of Pot Noodles and cigarettes fuelling the young are over as Generation Z are more likely to be teetotal, popping vitamins, shunning fad diets – and grabbing eight hours sleep a night.  A new report has revealed a whopping 95 per cent of 18-24 year-olds are taking a daily vitamin supplement, and 23 per cent boost their protein intake with shakes.  A whopping four in 10 Gen Z claim they are teetotal, with just a quarter drinking one or two units per week – equivalent to one pint of lower alcohol lager, or a small glass of wine.  And HALF of Gen Zers prioritise getting a full eight hours of sleep a night.  Three-quarters said they shun fad diets, while only 28 per cent confessed to trying diets such as Keto and the 5:2.  And despite being labelled picky and dubbed ‘snowflakes’, just five per cent are vegan, the same amount are pescatarian, and only one in 10 are vegetarian.  In contrast to debauched 90s twenty-somethings, influenced by acid house raves and drug-fuelled scenes in TV shows like ‘This Life’, 76 per cent of Gen-Z said they don’t use recreational drugs.  Although 17 per cent confessed to taking them.  In fact, one in four of those from Gen Z believe previous generations are far less healthy than them.  But despite their knowledge of keeping fit and healthy, a quarter of 18-25s mistakenly believe POTATOES count towards your recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetable intake.  Nykkea Maretic, from Swisse Me, which commissioned the research of 2,000 adults, said: “We understand the importance of health and wellbeing to Generation Z.  “They lead hectic lifestyles, so we offer a tailored range of products to help overcome daily stressors with natural ingredients.  “Our ‘Wellness Hub’ on the website provides tips and advice on maintaining your health through nutrition, vitamins and supplements.”   To find out more about Gen Z’s health and wellbeing focuses, as well as trend predictions for 2021, visit the Swisse Me Annual Health and Wellness Report at