11 Best Foods To Help Children Grow Taller
Genetics determines 80% of the height of an individual (1). However, as per studies, environmental factors (like nutrition and lifestyle) may also influence the height of an individual in their growing years (2). Intake of foods that help kids grow taller may provide the much-needed boost to their growth.
While we cannot do much about genes, we can ensure to provide proper nutrition to kids to facilitate their growth. In this article, we have listed foods that can aid the overall physical development of your kid, may stimulate the production of the growth hormone, and aid bone growth.
Diet And Height – How Are They Related?
Height is a non-modifiable factor, and the height of a child is mostly dependent on the parents’ height. If both the parents are tall, the child is likely to be tall.
Jesse Feder, Clinical Dietitian at the Memorial Regional Hospital, says, “Kids can get taller naturally by consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D.”
Children tend to grow in spurts and have a slightly increased growth rate between 6-8 years. About 25% of growth in height occurs during puberty (3). Two hormones contribute to this – the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which determine longitudinal bone growth and maintain bone mass (4). Hence, it may be helpful to consume foods that not only stimulate the production of the growth hormone but also aid bone growth. Read More..