Understanding How Height Works
The phase of fastest growth happens before a baby is born, as the baby grows from nearly zero to a height of approximately 50cm within nine months. This growth rate decreases after birth, with an average of 5.5 cm per year till the age of eight.
However, when a person hits puberty, the growth speeds up again; this is known as a pubertal growth spurt. Before puberty, both girls and boys grow at the same rate, but as puberty begins, boys tend to have more growth than girls.
On average, adult men are fourteen centimetres taller than adult women. The increase in bone length is related to the growth plates known as epiphyses. As puberty proceeds, these growth plates mature, and at the end of it, they fuse and stop to grow.
However, different parts of the skeleton do not cease growing altogether. In the beginning, the hands and feet stop growing, and then the arms and legs, followed by the spine at the end of it all. Once the child hits puberty, the growth ceases.
Factors That Might Stunt The Growth
There are many factors that might affect a person's growth, resulting in impaired development, short stature, or stunting. Some of the factors are mentioned below:
- Prolonged stress can affect the functionality of human growth hormone, which might have a negative effect on growth.
- Conditions like growth hormone deficiency, anaemia, cystic fibrosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease can affect a person's growth.
- Osteoporosis can lead to a loss of height, back pain and change in posture. Although this condition can affect individuals of any age, it is more common in older adults.
- Few studies suggest that exposure to pollutants such as lead, cadmium, or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) may be related to decreased height.
- A diet that lacks essential nutrients, particularly protein, can lead to decreased growth over time.
Height Boosting Supplements in Children and Teenagers
Even when genetics play a vital role in deciding a person's height, they are not the only factor. Growth can be boosted by height growth supplements. They come in different forms, like capsules, pills, and powder. They are made of different vitamins, minerals and some natural ingredients.
The ingredients in the growth supplements play a major role. Hence, it is important to notice them before buying a supplement. A few ingredients like vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium promote bone growth, and other ingredients like ginseng, rhodiola, and ashwagandha improve the production of growth hormones.
Make sure to read about the brand and its reviews before buying the product. It is always advised to consult a doctor before consuming any supplements, and it is also very important to stick to the dosage they recommend.
Side Effects
- The most common side effects are gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea, stomach pain and bloating. This might be due to the high mineral or calcium content that creates digestive problems.
- Hormone imbalance is the next possible side effect in teenage guys taking testosterone-based supplements. This might affect their reproductive system and cause acne and mood swings.
- Toxicity causes nausea, headache, and vomiting, which are some of the symptoms that might be due to excessive ingestion of certain nutrients such as zinc or vitamin D.
- It is always recommended to take any kind of supplement after consulting with a doctor as this can give good results and reduce the side effects.
Height Boosting Supplements in Adults
There are very few cases when supplements can have an effect, such as increasing the height in children and fighting shrinking in adults. If one has a condition which affects their human growth hormone (HGH), the physician might recommend taking supplements with synthetic HGH. They might also recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements to lessen the risk of osteoporosis. As soon as the growth plates fuse together, the height of a person can never be increased. So, it is very important to avoid any supplements that promise to increase the height of adults.
Increasing Height Naturally as a Child or Teenager
- Maintaining a proper diet with all the essential nutrients in the growing phase is important.
- The growth hormone is released by the brain during sleep. So, it is important for the body to get eight hours of sleep during adolescence.
- Research has shown that having good mental health is important to gain maximum growth capacity during the teenage years.
- Exercises like skipping, toe touching, and hanging by a bar help the body stretch and gain fitness, subsequently helping to grow taller.
Conclusion
A person's DNA is the main factor to influence their height. However, DNA is not the only criterion used to determine a person's height; other factors include medical conditions, nutrition, hormones, and many more. Height-boosting supplements taken in certain stages of life can turn out beneficial in this regard.
