Wouldn’t a couple inches by nice? In height that is. The idea of being taller is one not many would complain about – unless you’re already pushing Jurassic heights. The average male height in the U.S. is about 5’9, whereas in the Netherlands the average male height as about 5’11 and on the other end in Peru and India the average height is 5’5.
Understanding Growth
Before you get started it’s important to know that majority of your growth will incur during puberty but can begin as early as 10 and continue until about 25. Your height heavily depends on your genetics and other factors such as the environment, and nutrition can play a big role as well.
Malnutrition will limit your growth potential whereas healthy eating will likely produce your maximum potential – and a little more. At the end of your bones are Epiphyseal plates, which are contributing factors to the rapid growth during puberty. Pain in those regions are called growing pains, you might have felt this growing up. When the plates seal (ossify) your growing process halts. Sorry to break it to you, but after that, it’s not very hopeful.
Myths about Increasing Your Height
So, before you get your hopes too high, there’s a very, very, slim chance of you increasing your growth after your plates seal. Unfortunately, many still believe achieving their ideal height is possible. Therefore, we must dispel some age long myths:
- Sports
No, amount of basketball and swimming is going to increase your height. The study doesn’t show it and you’ll find out quickly that it doesn’t correlate.
- Stretching
A great way to help your posture, but in no way will it lengthen your plates.
- Hanging Exercises
Arguably one of the oldest methods of “lengthening”. Hanging from, pulling, or even stretching, ligaments is a quick way to cause permanent damage to your body. It just doesn’t work.
- Growth Pills
They don’t work. As with many “growth” supplements, they just label away to attract buyers but have not proven to be anything but a placebo. The Health Review – Height Growth Pills may be the only exception to this statement.
Growing Taller
Despite substantial growth post-puberty, naturally, not being a thing there are ways that will help increase maximize your height during puberty as well as the latter stages of your growth period. Completed collectively, there’s a good chance you’ll reach your height potential;
- Healthy Eating
Diet plays a big part in growth. The food you put into your body will attribute to keeping you healthy and nourished. A good indication of healthy foods, to assist in your growth, pertain Vitamin D, Vitamin B1, Calcium, Zinc, and Phosphorus. Added to your diet you will increase, not only your health but add years to your life and potentially some height. Additionally, drink more water. Stay hydrated and flush those nasty toxins out of your body.
- Exercise
Healthy lifestyles incorporate what you consume as well as how you choose to release energy. Exercise allows for stretching of your vital muscles, lowers your body fat, and allows you to attain a leaner figure – people who look leaner appear taller. Although stretching won’t add any “real” height, it will fix your posture, which may give you some added height.
- Sleep and rest
Get your 8 hours of sleep, take your naps to make up for lost sleep, but whatever you do allow your body to rest. Sleep a vital component to your overall health, especially for the growth of children and teens. Most of your growth occurs during sleep and lack of sleep (sleep deprivation) can have an adverse effect on your health, especially your growth hormones.
- Treatments
With very limited options, real growth processes are costly and complicated. Hormone treatments are capable of fixing the problem, but these are a result of a doctor’s recommendation due to a child being in the bottom 3rd percentile of their age group. So, it’s not likely an 18, let alone 25, year old is going to be recommended for hormone treatment.
- Surgery
Lastly, and least recommended method, surgery. Not only is it expensive, but surgery is painful, risky, and not recommended. Reasons for the hesitation are due to the deformity of bone structures, not achieving the intended height, lack of mobility, and potential nerve damages, post-surgery.
Conclusion
Stay healthy! Eat right, sleep well, and exercise. Not only are these the only safe, recommended, methods for attempted growth, but they have shown to be successful with children and teens. Adult growth is uncommon but not impossible. If you’re looking for a quick and cheap way to achieve your goals, stop! Take the natural route. The result of a natural, and healthy, lifestyle is a longer life. Those years will benefit you more than any incremental height change ever could.
Amanda