More than half of Brits feel making someone a cup of tea is still the ultimate act of kindness.

Helping an elderly neighbour (68 per cent), carrying heavy bags (63 per cent) and fixing something (59 per cent) closely followed Britains love affair with tea as the most meaningful gestures.

However, Gen Z favoured less traditional good deeds, like leaving a positive comment online (38 per cent), sending a voice note to check in (31 per cent) or letting someone go first on gym equipment (29 per cent).

By contrast, according to the research of 2,000 adults commissioned by protein shake brand, For Goodness Shakes, Boomers considered giving up your seat on public transport (65 per cent), holding the door open for someone (63 per cent) and helping a friend move or with errands (62 per cent) as more significant.

Food also remains a powerful way to show you care, with 52 per cent saying cooking a meal for someone else is a generous gesture.

With almost nine in 10 (89 per cent) of those surveyed, believing the UK could benefit from more kindness, the drinks brand set out to give Brits a boost, launching The Goodness Exchange at Battersea Power Station, which saw participants sign a pledge to do good in a bid to spread more kindness across the country and gifted with protein shakes in exchange.

Anjula Mutanda, TV psychologist who was on hand to encourage acts of kindness with For Goodness Shakes [https://www.forgoodnessshakes.com/], said: “It’s fascinating to see how acts of kindness continue to evolve with each generation; but at the core, they all reflect the same hard-wired desire to connect, express support and look out for one another.

“Whether it’s making someone a cup of tea or sending a quick message to check in, it’s often the simplest gestures that can make the biggest difference.

“Just as it is crucial that we nourish ourselves well to be physically healthy, performing acts of kindness also triggers the brain to release “feel good” chemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin associated with pleasure and reward, these chemicals play an integral part in helping to boost mood, reduce stress and create a sense of satisfaction.

“So, in doing good, we feel good too!”

Kindness isn’t just reserved for family and friends as 90 per cent believed it’s important to be kind to people they don’t know, while 83 per cent said random acts of kindness improve their mood for the rest of the day.

It’s not just the recipient who benefits, with 85 per cent confident there are mental and physical health benefits to sharing the love according to the OnePoll figures

But the impact goes even further, with 85 per cent saying that feeling good within yourself leads to more positive interactions with others, with 53 per cent of those claiming it makes you more approachable.

Generosity appears to be just as contagious as people claim it to be – with 57 per cent claiming they are more likely to carry out an act of kindness if someone else does as well.

For those in need of a boost, acts of kindness are most commonly experienced while out on a walk (29 per cent), at home (24 per cent) or on public transport (24 per cent).

But despite the benefits that come with being kind, 72 per cent said people feel hesitant about being nice to strangers because of a lack of trust (52 per cent).

Other reasons include concerns about being misinterpreted (47 per cent) and worries about personal safety (46 per cent).

It also emerged 52 per cent of adults believe people are less kind than they were a decade ago.

However, the intent is there – with 38 per cent carrying out an act of kindness within the past few days.

Philippa Milburn, Brand Manager at For Goodness Shakes, added: “We recognise that doing good starts with feeling good, it can be as simple as making sure we get enough sleep, surrounding ourselves with the right people or ensuring our diet fuels us.”

“When we’re fuelled by nutritious ingredients and take care of our bodies, we set ourselves up positively for the day and are in a better position to show up for others too.”

“The Goodness Exchange is about proving that doing good can feel good too and reminding people that everyday moments of kindness – whether at home, on a walk or on public transport – are more important than ever.”