Many of us are unhappy with our height. But can we do anything about it. This article discuses various factors which affect your height along with the science of height growth
Height Growth Science
- Natural height growth stops between 18 to 25 years of age
- The reason is your bones, specifically your growth plates
- Post this age, your bones ossify and the growth plates and sealed off
- This means that 90-95% of your growth potential is reached by 18 to 25 years of age
- Chances of height growth post this are low
What determines a person’s height
1. Genes
- 55 to 80 percent of the difference in height between individuals is determined by genetic factors
- The balance 20 to 45 percent difference in height is due to environmental factors like nutrition
2. Hormones
- Various hormones in the body affect the height. Some of these are :-
- Human growth hormone
- Thyroid hormone
- Sex hormones
- IGF-I
3. Balanced Diet
- During the growing years, it is crucial that the body gets all nutrients that are needed. A balanced diet should include :-
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables
- Whole grains
- Proteins
- Dairy products
4. Sufficient Sleep
- The body releases HGH (human growth hormone) while we sleep
- Production of this hormone may go down if you’re not getting enough sleep
5. Exercising and Staying Active
- Regular exercising has a number of benefits
- It strengthens your muscles and bones
- Helps you maintain healthy weight
- Promotes HGH production
6. Posture
- Being conscious about how you stand, sit and sleep is the key
- Poor posture may make you look shorter than what you actually are
- Over a period of time, slumping or slouching can also affect your actual height
- Good posture elongates your spine and add up to 2 inches to your height
- Compression and decompression of the discs in your spine leads to small changes in height throughout the day
Some common myths
- Exercising including weight lifting does not impair your height. Weight lifting can lead to minor compression of spinal discs in adults. However, this is reversible and also occurs due to other daily activities
- There are things which you can do to maximise your height before you turn 18
- Eat in sufficient quantity
- Make sure there is no vitamin or mineral deficiency in your teenage years
- Even when you eat enough, make sure your diet quality is good
- Vitamin D and Calcium are very important nutrients for bone growth and overall health
- Calcium from the diet alters hormone production in a way which benefits your bones
- Eating sufficient quantity of fruits and vegetables is vital for overcoming nutrient deficiency
- Eating enough protein is also essential for the bone health
Although you can do things to achieve your best possible height, but don’t lose heart if aren’t too tall. Having the right attitude and positive is more important. Have confidence in yourself. Take care of yourself
- Practice good posture
- Try heels or place shoe inserts to add a couple of inches to your height
- Gain muscle to look and feel stronger