Are you looking more mature than your age? Then, it might be a concern in this current environment. Experts have noted an alarming trend: GenZ is ageing like milk. Due to various factors like chronic stress for years, GenZ has experienced greyer hair and older bones much earlier than previous generations.
The concept of ageing like milk
The concept of ageing like milk refers to a rapid and premature ageing process, much like how milk spoils quickly under unfavourable conditions. This phrase ageing like milk is used metaphorically to describe how certain factors like chronic stress for years etc. can cause individuals or groups to age faster than expected.
GenZ is getting older faster than millennials or like milk because of different factors discovered by experts. Nowadays, GenZers are exposed to a lot of information through social media. Getting excessive information about topics related to their lifestyle creates chronic stress for years among GenZ. Stress, excessive use of social media, etc., become the cause of premature among Genzer.
The trend of ageing like milk got started when Jordan Howlett, an influencer with more than 11 million followers on Instagram, a GenZer himself shared his story. He highlighted how people often mistake his mother for his younger sister. This anecdote perfectly illustrates the rapid ageing phenomenon among his generation.
He also shared an epic moment when he asked for an autograph from The Rock. When The Rock asked for their name, he told Howlett and The Rock wrote, “Your dad (Howlatt) is a great guy; he stood out here for hours.” This interaction, both amusing and telling, underscores the generational age gap that’s become increasingly apparent.
Understanding Aging: Chronological vs. Biological
Ageing isn’t just about the number of years one has lived. As per experts two types of ageing have been found – biological age and chronological age. Chronological age refers to the total number of years a person has lived from their birth up to a specific date, which is also called traditional ageing. The actual state of a person’s health and physical conditions refers to biological age.
Because of different factors, the biological age of people is getting older among GenZers. GenZers are getting back pain, neck pain, heart attack, posture issues and the like in their early ages due to faster growth of biological age. These are typically found in people who are in their 60s or 70s.
Collagen deficiency is causing premature ageing
Collagen deficiency leads to premature ageing by reducing the skin’s structural integrity and elasticity. Collagen is a vital protein that keeps skin firm, smooth, and youthful. As collagen production decreases with age, starting around 25, the skin begins to lose its firmness and suppleness. This results in fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.
Environmental factors such as UV exposure, smoking, and poor diet can accelerate collagen breakdown, further contributing to premature ageing. In this modern lifestyle, factors like excessive screentime, excessive consumption of sugary and junk food and stress are also affecting the collagen level.
Factors contributing to premature ageing
- Chronic stress for years: The constant pressure of social media, academic demands, and economic uncertainty is taking a toll. Most GenZ people are seen to live under depression, chronic stress for years or suffering from mental health issues. An event of Covid-19 can be taken into consideration. The students who completed their graduation during the pandemic have the habit of living in a secure environment, and in post-pandemic, they faced an intense workload. This certain change in their lifestyle creates heavy stress and mental health issues among GenZ. Chronic stress can lead to premature cellular ageing and ageing like milk.
- Obesity: Obesity is considered the epicentre of a range of diseases. For Gen Z, this condition is not just about weight—it’s impacting their appearance and overall health. Excessive fat accumulation, especially around the face and neck, can make individuals look much older than their actual age.
- Glycation: In this modern culture, the consumption of sugar has increased significantly. Nowadays, GenZers have cravings and can easily order foods that are sugary or deep-fried through online platforms like Zomato and Swiggy. This further boosts the concept of ageing like milk.
- Party culture: The party culture became quite famous among GenZ. This trend has led many young people to engage in activities such as smoking and drinking alcohol at an earlier age. For many GenZ individuals, these activities are seen as a way to fit in, experience new things, or simply follow trends and lead to ageing like milk.
- Eating disorder: In this modern life, people are forgetting about healthy eating, and building a bad habit of eating junk foods. This trend is further amplified by social media, where food vloggers play a significant role in shaping dietary choices. Food influencers frequently showcase large, indulgent meals, often featuring extravagant portions of non-vegetarian dishes. In this case, both the creator and consumers are affected by building bad food habits, leading to premature ageing and ageing like milk.
6. High work-load: The trend of AI and technological innovation, increases the work-load among young people. GenZers are working hours by sitting or scrolling on social media not considering their posture. Bad posture became a serious factor for GenZ for ageing like milk.
Different ways of addressing these issues
- Building a healthy diet: One needs to add more green foods like vegetables, fruits and liquid forms of foods to create a healthy and balanced diet to avoid premature ageing.
- Regular exercise: Regular exercise or yoga can prevent premature ageing issues like bad posture, grey hair, older bones, laziness, chronic stress for years they are suffered etc.
- Intermittent fasting: Having intermittent fasting for 12 hours can work magic in preventing premature ageing. One needs to ensure of not consume any food or drink after sunset to start intermittent fasting.
- Stop smoking and drinking: Excessing alcohol consumption dehydrates the skin and depletes essential nutrients like Vitamin A that affect collagen production. Smoking reduces oxygen supply, supplies toxins in the body, and increases enzymes that lead to premature skin ageing and wrinkles. Therefore, stopping these habits can help maintain collagen levels and avoid ageing like milk.
FAQ
Why is GenZ ageing like milk?
Nowadays, GenZer is ageing like milk because they are exposed to a lot of information through social media. Getting excessive information about topics related to their lifestyle creates spare stress among GenZ. Stress, excessive use of social media, etc., become the cause of premature among Genzer.
Why is collagen important for our skin?
Collagen is a vital protein that keeps skin firm, smooth, and youthful.
Does sugar reduce collagen production in the skin?
Yes. In this modern lifestyle, factors like excessive screentime, excessive consumption of sugary and junk food and stress are also affecting the collagen level.
Do millennials look younger than GenZ?
Yes. Stress, excessive use of social media, etc., become the cause of premature among GenZer.
What factors are causing premature ageing in GenZ?
Chronic stress, obesity, glycation, party culture, eating disorders and high workload are causing premature ageing in GenZ.
What is biological age?
The actual state of a person’s health and physical conditions refers to biological age.
Is stress responsible for premature ageing?
The constant pressure of social media, academic demands, and economic uncertainty is taking a toll. Most GenZ people are seen to live under depression, stress or suffering from mental health issues, which is causing premature ageing.
How to address premature ageing?
Build a healthy diet, do regular exercise, start Intermittent fasting, and stop smoking and drinking.
