Can you increase your height after 21?

Many people wonder: can we grow taller after 21, 22, or 25? On one hand, it’s easy to find a flood of YouTube videos teaching you how to grow 3 to 6 inches taller when you are 30 years old. On the other hand, it’s also easy to find articles that claim that it’s impossible to grow a single inch after you are 21.

So in this blog post, we will go over different studies and research articles, determine what is actually possible, and go over practical steps you can take in order to increase your height, no matter how old you may be.

How Does Height Growth Happen?

Throughout your childhood and teenage years, your bones become longer through a process known as ossification, which is when the cartilages at the end of your bones are replaced by the bone structure.

When Do You Stop Growing?

When you become an adult, the epiphyseal plates (or your growth plates) near the end of your bones become inactive or closed, which means that your bones stop growing in length. This is when your height growth stops naturally.

Healthline claims that most people’s height won’t increase after age 18 to 20, since their growth plates wouldn’t still be active or “open.” Forbes states that people are done growing mostly by the time they’re 18-25, when their bones ossify and the epiphyseal plates seal themselves.

But since this mechanism happens at different ages for everyone, we cannot make definitive statements about exactly when it is possible to grow, and when it’s not.

How Can You Increase Your Height After 21?

So one may naturally wonder, how on earth would it be possible to grow taller when all of your bones stop growing? By increasing the length of your spinal discs.

According to Height Maximizer, there was a study that was conducted in order to help elders over the age of 65 reduce the pain in their lower back. At the end of the study when the elders reduced their lower back pain significantly, they found that the length of their spinal discs actually increased by 1.3mm.

So if a group of 65-year-olds can increase the length of their discs, you certainly can too. The question is, what can you actually start doing right now, in order to increase your height by 1 or 2 inches? By applying the following strategies below.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

The most important factor to nail is your human growth hormone levels. This is a biochemical that is released in your pituitary gland. This biochemical isn’t only responsible for the bone growth of children and teenagers, but for actually helping you to maximize your disc length. Not only can HGH increase your disc length, but can also promote many other health benefits, such as:

Increased muscle strength
Enhanced weight loss
Stronger bones
Reduced cardiovascular disease risk
Better mood and cognitive function
Better sleep

So how can you maximize your HGH levels to increase your disc length, and enjoy all of the health benefits that comes with it? By following the tips I’m about to share down below!

Do Exercises and Stretches

Once again, there are a flood of exercises and stretches that you can find on YouTube that are supposed to help you grow taller. But how do you which exercise is the best for increasing your height?

To put simply: any exercise that can increase your human growth hormone levels will help you increase your height. The best exercises for increasing your HGH levels is by far the High-Intensity Interval Training (also known as HIITs). So make sure that you follow the HIIT protocol, and pick your favorite exercise to do, such as:

Sprints
Ellipticals
Burpees
Jumping ropes.

Stretches are also a great way to increase your height after 25, since they will help you straighten your posture. The straighter your posture the taller you will become. Some stretches you can do are:

Touching your toes
Bridge
Cobra pose
Hip flexor stretch

Optimize Your Food, Diet, and Nutrition

If you are wondering which foods are the best for growing taller, it’s no different than the exercises. Any food that can help to increase your human growth hormones will help you maximize your height.

So which foods can increase your HGH levels? Look for foods that are high in the following nutrients:

Vitamin D3
L-Arginine
L-Ornithine
L-Glutamine
Healthy Oils

Foods that are high in Vitamin C are also beneficial, since they help your bones absorb Vitamin D3, which is important for keeping your bones strong and healthy.

Bonus Tip: Look into Height Supplements

Many people wonder: can height growth pills or medicine actually help you grow taller? The amount of controversy that is online regarding this subject can make it hard to find a definitive answer. But when it comes to pills and supplements, it’s no different from eating the right foods; you just need to find the supplements that will fuel your body with the proper nutrients for growth.

So if you want to find pills or supplements to grow taller, just make sure to look for the nutrients that are listed in the previous section (Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, L-Arginine, L-Ornithine, L-Glutamine, and Healthy Oils). Consuming them regularly will be equivalent to eating foods that are rich in these nutrients, but it will simply be more convenient and easier to track.

There are also proprietary blends that are sold on the market, such as Peak Height pills which are made for children and teenagers. If you are interested in this type of supplement, make sure to look into the ingredients, so you can prevent any unwanted side effects. However, if you stick to natural foods and supplements, it should get the job done.

What is The Bottom Line?

In conclusion, it isn’t possible to grow 4 to 6 inches if your bones have completely stopped growing as an adult. However, by following the tips above, you can help yourself grow that extra inch, but more importantly, live a healthier lifestyle.