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Have you always been the chotti in your group? Have you heard people saying to you “dekh ke paon ke neeche naa ajana”? Or are you the one whose driving people don’t trust because you can’t see the road? If yes, then you might be looking for some ways to increase your height, if you think you still can. Or if you have outgrown these years, you must be worried about your children getting the same height as you. Well, it’s not your fault because what you have heard most of your life must have bruised you and created a complex that can be really hard to overcome. Need not worry anymore. We are here to answer all your questions related to height and ways to increase height.
It has been a long-debated topic, whether one can increase their height or not. With dadis suggesting to hang a lot and nanis suggesting drink as much milk as possible, you must be lost and desperate to find actual facts and ways to increase height. Before learning about different ways to increase your height, we will have to learn the basics. So let’s start.
What Factors Influence Your Height?
Some blame nutrition, some genetics, and some blame the exercise you do for your height. But what actually determines your height? An easy answer would be genetics but it’s not the whole story. There is more to reaching a potentially good height than genetics. Well, 60-80% of your height depends upon genetics, the rest is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors.
If you observe closely you will find out that we are generally taller than our ancestors. This observation is backed by scientific research too. One study suggests that people on average are taller in 1996 than they were in 1896, this means that something in the environment has changed that has favored the growth in height. It is more than likely that this suspected factor is good nutrition.
In conclusion, the main factor that determines one’s height is genetic makeup but other factors like nutrition, hormonal health, activity, and medical conditions can boost or hinder one’s height.
Can You Increase Your Height After 18?
Unfortunately, even with a healthy diet and hours of exercise, you may fail to get any taller if you are 18 years or more of age. An increase in height is obviously due to the lengthening of your bones. This lengthening is supported by the growth plates present at the end of your bones. Growth plates are cartilage-like soft materials that give the bone space to grow as much as they want. Before 18-20 years of age, your growth plates are active or open but after this age hormonal changes cause these plates to harden and close. Now that the plates are hard there is no space for the bones to lengthen.
You will be surprised to know that your height may slightly change from day to day, even in adulthood. This is due to the slight compression of the growth plates. You are taller in the morning than you are at night. Once you start your day your activity affects the cartilage and fluid in your spine. This causes slight reductions as the day progresses.
Keep in mind that no stretching, exercise, and diet will help you in increasing your height after 20. So if you are tiring yourself hanging with the rods for 15minutes, you are fooling yourself. And the cartons of milk you are chugging down are increasing nothing but your weight.
Ways To Increase Height Before Adulthood
If you are not an adult yet, consider yourself lucky for various reasons. One; you still can reach your potential height and second; you don’t have to deal with the crappy adulthood life yet.
Keep in mind that genetics still remains the major influencing factor of height. But these other factors can help you in reaching your potential maximum height.
Optimum Nutrition
During the growing years, it is vital that you get a well-balnced diet with the optimum amount of all the essential nutrients. A well-balnced diet should include meat, whole grains, all fruits, vegetables, dairy, and lentils. It is important to consume enough calcium at this age through diet. But some medical conditions can hinder the absorption of calcium for which you might need special calcium supplements, for this you should consult a nutritionist.
Calcium and Vitamin D are the two most important nutrients that determine the bone size and density. So for the best bone health you must consume enough calcium and vitamin D.
All the food you need for strong bones.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep may not affect your height directly but it can interfere with your normal body functioning. Lack of enough sleep or irregular sleeping patterns can lead to compromised health in the long run. And overall poor health can take a toll on your growth and height.
Exercise Regularly
As a kid, you might not need to hit the gym every day but simple daily physical activity is a must. Exercise is responsible for strengthening your muscles and bones. School-going children should exercise at least an hour a day. This can be a complete our dedicated to exercise or high-intensity physical activities such as running and jumping spread throughout a day.
The good part is, it is not hard to make children move but the ever-increasing use of tabs and mobile phones has made it somewhat hard. Still, exercising can help a bundle.
Practise Good Posture
Sometimes you are not as short as you make yourself look. A bad posture can be your worst enemy if you are looking to increase your height and look tall. Slouching down while walking and laying on a couch will do no good. A bad posture can ruin your structure for good. A bad posture can also cause severe back and neck pain.
Try maintaining a curve in your back with shoulders up. To correct your posture, you should consult a physiotherapist.
General tips to increase your height.
The Bottom Line
Although your height is not completely in your hands. But maintaining a healthy life in your childhood can help you reach the maximum Try determined by your genetic makeup. So if you as an adult have complexes regarding your height you can help your child is not facing the same as you.
FAQs
1. Does hanging increase your height?
No hanging can not increase your height. In fact, hanging for very long periods can create a gap between your joints. This will make you slightly taller for a short time until your spine compresses back.
2. Can drinking milk in old age help?
Drinking milk and taking enough calcium can be a protective measure but after a certain age calcium absorption stops.
3. What is the right posture?
Your spine has three natural curves, maintaining all these curves is the best posture. Also, the correct posture should not tire you out or cause pain.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with top doctors in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online appointment booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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