What to eat to grow?

[nvictor]

Hello,

do you know? I'm starting a special diet to earn more inches... I have heard that vegetables are good (from mom long time ago) but I need to vary my meals. So what do you suggest?

[ticktockclok]

Nothing you eat will make you grow taller.....

[nvictor]

Originally Posted by ticktockclok

Nothing you eat will make you grow taller.....

Really?

[ahimel]

Mm... depends on your age and current diet, but for the most part that's true.

There's strong correlation between living in a country where most people get an adequate diet, and height. Food deprivation stunts growth. If you currently malnourished, eating enough could help you grow.

Although it's difficult to study, it's believed that one of the benefits of adequate diet is the vitamins and minerals that you don't get when eating (say) a handful of rice each day. So if your diet has enough calories, but currently consists of only one thing, or of pure junk food, eating a variety of vegetables, whole grains, and perhaps a vitamin supplement could help you grow.

Even if both of the above are true, however, you probably can't change your height if you're older than 20, and it may be too late by 15. I hit 5'5.5" when I was a sophomore in high school, and it hasn't changed since. If you're 5 years old, you've got a good shot - but I'm guessing that's unlikely. If you're in middle or high school, there's still a chance. Eat your vegetables, cut down on Snickers bars, and get enough sleep. But if you're in college or beyond, you're probably out of luck.

Even if you were 5 years old and currently malnourished, but had the ability to change that, there's still a limit to what diet can do. Genetics is a much stronger factor in most cases - someone of Asian descent is just less likely to reach 6'. And genetics is pretty screwy -- both of my parents are above 6 feet. My brother is 6'6". I haven't made it to 5 and a half feet. I'm pretty sure my diet was just as good as my brother's. It's just one of those things, you know?

[nvictor]

Originally Posted by ahimel

Mm... depends on your age and current diet, but for the most part that's true.

There's strong correlation between living in a country where most people get an adequate diet, and height. Food deprivation stunts growth. If you currently malnourished, eating enough could help you grow.

Although it's difficult to study, it's believed that one of the benefits of adequate diet is the vitamins and minerals that you don't get when eating (say) a handful of rice each day. So if your diet has enough calories, but currently consists of only one thing, or of pure junk food, eating a variety of vegetables, whole grains, and perhaps a vitamin supplement could help you grow.

Even if both of the above are true, however, you probably can't change your height if you're older than 20, and it may be too late by 15. I hit 5'5.5" when I was a sophomore in high school, and it hasn't changed since. If you're 5 years old, you've got a good shot - but I'm guessing that's unlikely. If you're in middle or high school, there's still a chance. Eat your vegetables, cut down on Snickers bars, and get enough sleep. But if you're in college or beyond, you're probably out of luck.

Even if you were 5 years old and currently malnourished, but had the ability to change that, there's still a limit to what diet can do. Genetics is a much stronger factor in most cases - someone of Asian descent is just less likely to reach 6'. And genetics is pretty screwy -- both of my parents are above 6 feet. My brother is 6'6". I haven't made it to 5 and a half feet. I'm pretty sure my diet was just as good as my brother's. It's just one of those things, you know?

I'm exactly 20. I'll try. If it doesn't work, no problem. But I'd have lost nothing, I'd learnt to eat well.

[tropicality]

Weight lifting and exercise (with proper nutrition) is probably your best bet, get that testosterone flowing..

[ahimel]

And that diet will give you huge benefits even if none of those benefits happen to be growth.

See this post for the basics of the diet you need. The USDA food pyramid, although full of flaws, is also a good place to start. Stay tuned to this forum for other ideas for improving beyond those basics (the Harvard food pyramid, or the inverted pyramid of health, or various forms of vegetarianism.)

Good luck!

[Donkey]

Try the magic grow tall beans. You can buy them at my ebay store.