Do you ever find yourself looking in the mirror and wishing you were a few inches taller? Well, you’re not alone. Many individuals, especially teenagers, are not entirely satisfied with their current height. If you’re 17 and eager to learn how to boost your stature, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we will delve into the science behind height growth and explore practical tips and techniques that can help you maximize your growth potential. Whether you’re aiming to gain a few extra inches or just curious about the factors that influence your height, this guide will provide you with valuable insights.
So, no need to hesitate any longer. Keep reading, and let’s uncover the secrets to reaching your full height potential.
Can I still grow taller at 17?
The complete closure happens on average between ages 15-18 for females and 18-22 for males [1]. And after this time, you have reached your final adult height and can no longer grow taller. At 17, some teens have already finished puberty while others are living with it. If you are in the previous group, it seems to be hard for you to get taller. On the other hand, you might add inches to your height.
What is the average height for a 17-year-old teenager?
The average height for a 17-year-old girl is about 5’3”. They generally grow around 2 inches per year during puberty, with their growth spurt attaining its peak between the ages of 11 and 14.
An average height 17-year-old boy can be approximately 5’7”. Since they tend to enter puberty later than teen girls, they might be shorter at the early period of puberty. But then they are more likely to grow afterward. In particular, the average height gain for teen boys is about 3 inches per year during puberty.
Top 12 height-increasing tips for teenagers at 17
Have a healthy breakfast
Having a healthy breakfast plays an important part in a proper lifestyle, and it is always recommended by all diet experts. Yes, a healthy breakfast helps strengthen metabolism and enhance the absorption of nutrients. And avoid skipping breakfast because it will result in gastric issues and ulcers, and enhance the acid content in the stomach, making its lining erode and affecting height growth as well as overall development.
Consume a nutritious diet
If you are still growing, eating a healthy diet helps build strong bones and muscles. Even if you have stopped growing, a nutritious diet can help you stay lean, which may make you look taller. Let’s build your meals with:
- Lean protein in soy, beans, and nuts to strengthen muscle growth and healthy bones.
- Calcium in dairy and leafy green veggies like kale and spinach promote healthy bones.
- Zinc, such as pumpkin and squash seeds, wheat germs, eggs, and peanuts. Lacking zinc might lead to stunted growth in boys [2].
- Vitamin D in fish, mushrooms, milk, and cereals.
Have small and frequent meals
Smaller and more frequent meals help the body absorb nutrients from food better. It is best to have three main meals and two snacks to ensure the body gets enough nutrients during the day.
Exercise regularly
Getting regular exercise might help you stay healthy and get taller. When you exercise, you stretch out your limbs and body tissues as well as build healthy muscles and bones. But make sure you pick the suitable exercises to help you reach the tallest height possible. Hanging or skipping supports height gain effectively. Sports like swimming, basketball, soccer, and tennis have been known to help you get taller naturally. You should also try some yoga asanas to improve your height.
Get a proper sleep
Sleeping is important because the body regenerates its tissues for growth and repair. Also, when you sleep, the human growth hormone is naturally produced, which plays a vital role in height increase. Make sure you get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night so the body can repair itself and recover energy levels.
Drink plenty of water
This is one of the simplest yet effective height-increasing ways for teens. Yes, water helps cleanse and detoxify the body by flushing out toxins from the body. Also, it supports the absorption of nutrients that might assist in height gain. You need to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to maintain the ideal water content in the body, which smoothens the body part functions and aids in strengthening immune health.
Maintain an ideal body weight
Obesity has been known to cause stunted growth as well as other health issues [3]. Imagine that if you have extra body weight, gravity will squeeze your intervertebral discs, leaving you with short stature. Plus, excessively much body weight puts pressure on the bones and joints, also making you look shorter. So, it is necessary to keep an ideal body weight by eating and exercising properly.
Avoid too much salty and fatty food
Why? That is because unhealthy foods like burgers, pizzas, cakes, potato chips, doughnuts, or lollies are high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt while low in necessary nutrients. Teens who eat too much of these foods will be at a higher risk of being overweight, obese, and even having type-2 diabetes. Also, drinking too many soft drinks should be avoided since they are just high in sugar and might prevent you from reaching your maximum potential height.
Avoid growth inhibitors
Getting addicted to alcohol and smoking during adolescence might leave serious medical conditions, like growth hormone abnormalities, childhood arthritis, hypothyroidism, etc. Using steroids is also known to reduce sperm count, increase the chance of heart diseases, and raise blood pressure. Teens who depend on steroid-based inhalers for dealing with asthma will be shorter in height compared to others.
Practice good posture
In fact, good posture does not make you grow, yet makes you appear taller. Do not slouch while walking. And when you sit on a chair, try to keep your back straight. If you are unsure how to maintain good posture, you can check it by looking in a mirror or filming yourself. Practice until mastering.
Manage stress
If teens live with intense levels of stress and fear, it may get internalized and lead to stress hormones. And if they have high levels of stress hormones, this could make bones stop growing [4]. As parents, you need to notice the signs of stress and then give suitable advice and support to help them deal with it.
Try height-increasing dietary supplements
Last but not least, adding these products has been around for years with the guarantee of supporting height gain. Although not all supplements are similar, they are loaded with the necessary nutrients for improving height as well as overall health. So, if you are interested in trying it for optimal height increase, check out the top height growth pills now.
In conclusion,
While genetics undoubtedly play a significant role in determining one’s height, it is important to recognize that there are factors within our control that can influence growth even at the age of 17. By adhering to a well-balanced and nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise, and implementing other positive lifestyle changes, individuals can potentially support their efforts to increase their height.
Wishing you the best of luck on your journey towards achieving your height goals!
