How often have you spotted someone taller and sighed "If only I too were…" You are not alone. There are so many who are blessed with so much, but the height. There may be many causes for that and even there may be factors that are beyond your control such as genetics. But there are ways that can help you inch up. Height growth supplements and height-increasing formulas are in vogue. Are they really the go-to medicine that makes you taller? How effective are they, let's check.
Where do you get your height from?
Genetics is a major determinant of your height. How tall you will get rests mainly upon your DNA. There may be rare cases when your genes aren't the cause of your short stature. Other than genetic factors nutrition, lifestyle, physical activities, environmental factors, physical trauma, and stress may play vital roles in physical growth.
Normally, a child after the age of 2 grows at a rate of 6 cm per year till she or he reaches adolescence. Most of the growth in height takes place during puberty and stops when the growth plates fuse, limiting further growth of bones. This means you have to focus more on increasing height during your adolescence stage.
Can you grow more?
There are things that you should also continue to do to optimize your ability to grow and maintain your height even after you attain adulthood. Follow these steps to look taller and maximize your growth potential.
Nutrition
The growing stage requires adequate nutrition. After puberty, although they don't give a spurt in your height, but will make and keep you strong and healthy-looking.
Add more fresh veggies, proteins, dairy, fresh fruits, and grains to your diet. Stay away from sugar and saturated fats. Keep checking your calcium levels. If you are wondering which vitamin is needed for height growth; they are vitamin D and K. Vitamin D and K are vital for bone health along with minerals such as zinc and magnesium. They support the body to absorb and utilize nutrients essential for growth. The study results have proved that a deficiency of vitamin D results in stunted growth in young children.
Exercise
Aerobics, flexibility exercises, and power-building exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups keep you healthy and help make your bones and muscles strong. Flexibility and stretching exercises like yogic poses maintain hormone levels, correct your postures, improve your mobility, and reduce the chances of injury in later years of life.
Supplements
Choose height increase medicines wisely. According to your needs, the doctors advise you supplements. They check whether your growth is stunted due to a deficiency of growth hormones or if you are an adult they may check for your calcium and vitamin levels and likewise.
There are natural height growth capsules and powder supplements that can be tried if you are in a growing stage. Unlike synthetic supplements, herbs are natural and often free of major side effects but be cautious if you are allergic to any herbs. For that do check the label for the ingredients in it.
You should consider the following before taking any supplements that claim height growth:
Effectiveness: As it is unlikely that supplements may bring a drastic change in your height if you have crossed puberty, some improvements can be expected if you are still in a growing stage.
Side effects: Synthetic hormonal supplements with human growth hormone or HGH may have side effects such as muscle, joint, and nerve pain. The best supplements for height growth don't have side effects. Mostly herbal supplements are safer as they are natural.
Only facts no fiction: Keep a realistic expectation. Don't expect 2 inches of height growth in a fortnight. Even natural hormones that your body releases take time to give effect. Here, you can't expect synthetic hormonal supplements to work magic.
Sleep
Human growth hormone is released by the pituitary gland in the body during sleep. HGH is responsible for the growth and multiplication of bone and cartilage cells. If you don't get enough sleep then HGH release is disturbed, causing slow growth. Growth here means overall growth, including height.
How can you look taller?
There are some tips that you can follow to look tall, and they are:
Correct posture: Maintain a good posture. Poor posture such as slumping and hunching may affect your height in the long run. Postures like mountain pose, cobra pose, and warrior pose correct your posture.
Clothing selection: Check for the fitting. The right-fit clothes can help you look taller. Check for styles that create an illusion of height.
High Shoes: Specially designed shoes can elevate your height instantly.
The bottom line
Focusing on height growth measures during adolescence is vital. It's a fact that height growth stops by the end of puberty; however, some steps can enhance your growth and development and help maintain your height during adulthood. Height growth medicines are a hope for those looking to add a few inches, but should be taken with taking necessary precautions. Opting for natural products with herbal ingredients is safer as they have minimum side effects. Consult a physician before you start any supplements or medicines. So, keep growing!