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When you want to stay fit and healthy, then I recommend running, which is an exercise that can help you burn calories and benefit your cardio health. It has a multitude of benefits it has to offer, but one question many have asked is, does running make you taller?
If you want to see if running can help you grow taller and why it does (if it does!).
Does Running Make You Taller?
Running doesn’t directly affect your height, so don’t expect to grow a few inches just from running alone.
There are other factors to consider that would determine your final height and how tall you grow especially your genetics. Other factors include your nutrition and sleep, as malnutrition and lack of sleep can stunt your height.
With that in mind, there are ways running may increase your height, but in ways we didn’t realize! Here are the things running does to our bodies that help us grow taller:
Gives You Streamlined Appearance
As you run, the taller you appear because of the streamlined appearance it would give you. This is because running helps to remove your spine’s curvature, so you may look taller than you are.
Also, running promotes better posture. When running, you need to keep your head up, shoulders relaxed, and a straight back, all of which contribute to proper posture. You release tension in your body with this form and compress your muscles, so there is a possibility to grow an inch or so from your spine.
Plus, the extended stretching as you run, as well as performing cool-down exercises, keeps your spine straight and may add to your original height. So you don’t only gain height, you’ll appear even taller.
Increases Your Length of Bones
This is another amazing benefit running offers, especially when sprinting! When you sprint, or even run intensely for long distances, it helps increase the length of your bones. This is from the micro-fractures that are caused in your ankle and tibia, which would be repaired in time, which will then increase your height.
Take note that this would only happen every three years, though done by your body naturally.
Stimulates Growth Hormones
Because running is a highly intense exercise, it would trigger your hormone growth, stimulating the pituitary gland to produce HGH (human growth hormone). The production of growth hormones increases as you perform highly intense activities like running. Research shows that 24 hours after running, growth hormone production would increase significantly.
You Lose Excess Weight
Running will help you burn calories, and when you pair it with a healthy diet, it can help you lose weight. As you lose fat and gain a bit of muscle, you appear leaner. When you are lean, you appear and look taller. Plus, running releases hormones and endorphins that can help you feel great!
So technically, running won’t directly make you taller, though it contributes to factors that can increase your height. I don’t recommend you begin running solely for growing taller, but for the many other benefits it offers, too. Growing taller is just a bonus!
Do you want to learn more about the benefits of running, besides how it MAY make you taller? Here is an informative video you should check out:
What You Should NOT Do
Yes, running has benefits that contribute to factors that make you taller, but there are also a few things that can hinder your growth, including:
Extreme Exercise
Yes, running and other forms of exercise are important factors for those who want to grow taller. However, you should NOT overdo it! When you perform extreme exercise, it may actually damage your body’s growth plates, causing it to release fewer growth hormones.
When you strain your body to the limits, it will do all that it can to compensate for the fatigue. As a result, your body uses growth hormones to help it recover rather than actually grow cartilage and more height. This is crucial to remember especially those at a young age, as this is the time most of the growing happens.
Smoking and Bad Nutrition
Smoking makes running difficult and can also increase the risk of diseases, such as lung cancer. Besides this, smoking is proven to actually decrease one’s height because of the chemicals and toxins from tobacco, draining your body of important nutrients and growth hormones needed to grow taller.
The same goes for your nutrition. When you don’t eat healthily, your body is robbed of important nutrients that are needed to grow taller and exercise efficiently. That’s why it’s important to eat healthy and nutritious food as you maintain a good exercise routine.
Tips on Running to Help You Grow Taller
Get sports massage
Sports massage for runners is an excellent alternative when you get repetitive running injuries. Runners can use sports massage to prevent running injuries, improve flexibility, and excel in performance. Also, sports massage may be used to alleviate pain, anxiety, and muscle tension. A sports massage treatment may be performed on the massage table or on the special futon, also the sports massage therapist might adapt the massage treatment to achieve skeletal alignment and muscular balance. Runners can have sports massages even as clothed. If you opt to put on clothing, ensure it’s thin, and loose, and permits the therapist to get entry to your muscles. Loose shorts are acceptable. This massage will take 60–90 minutes.
Now that you know about running can make you taller? what are other things to know about increasing your height? Here are some tips you can follow:
Running Tips
I highly recommend that you run as regularly as you can if you want effective results. Make sure that you stay consistent and have a plan that allows you to run at a comfortable speed and distance, increasing them slowly but surely.
Furthermore, you may want to try incorporating sprints into your runs. Running at high speeds in shorter distances can trigger the release of growth hormones, and your body can regain lost energy. Besides this, springs can help burn fat well, helping you get leaner.
Also, as you run, make sure that you focus on your posture and maintain good form all throughout, which encourages you to appear taller, and maybe grow taller in time.
Check more about under-desk treadmills for runners at home
Perform Additional Exercises
You shouldn’t only focus on running! It’s best that you incorporate other exercises that can help encourage growth while also helping you avoid running injuries. One of the best things to do is to perform stretches or do yoga regularly, as stretches can help with lengthening your bones and encourage better posture.
Here are a few other exercises that can help with your posture and height:
- Cobra stretching
- Dryland swimming
- Pelvic shifting
- Hopping with one leg
- Pilates rollover
Have an Appropriate Meal Plan
What you eat can also help you grow taller, especially when you combine it with a good exercise routine (which is running!). Make sure to look into what you consume, especially your macronutrients.
You should avoid consuming processed and sugary foods, opting for fresh ingredients over junk. You can have these once in a while (it gets tempting, I know!), but don’t make it a habit of taking it every day.
I recommend that you incorporate these foods into your diet:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Carrots
- Apples
- Green and yellow vegetables
- Beans
- Potatoes
- Liver
- Fish
- Peanuts
Get Enough Sleep
When you sleep at appropriate amounts, your pituitary gland can function normally, releasing a good amount of growth hormones. Remember, the human growth hormone is released mostly as you sleep, so never deprive yourself of it!
It’s best that you get at least 7-9 hours of sleep a day, keeping it consistent. Prioritize sleep in your schedule and get the proper amount of it. Not only can this help with your growth, it can also give you enough energy for your runs, which can also indirectly benefit your growth.
Avoid Using Growth Suppressors
Never use growth suppressors, which are your typical vices, including alcohol, drugs, and smoking. These are very addicting and can negatively affect your health in the long run, while inhibiting your body’s ability to grow at a healthy rate. Plus, these can ruin your quality of life, from your food choices down to your energy to exercise.
Another thing to know is that having a stressful and sedentary lifestyle may negatively impact your height. Avoid stressors and find ways that can help with anything that pressures you (such as work or academic-related issues), such as doing yoga, meditation, taking rest days, and more. If you are currently living a sedentary lifestyle, now is the time to start exercising more and eating healthier!
Wrapping It Up
When you implement running into your life, it MAY make you grow taller in certain ways. However, it’s not the way you expect, as it can make you taller in terms of confidence and posture, helping you look even taller AND leaner! There are other factors to consider as you think about your height with exercise, such as your genetics, getting good sleep, along with improved form and nutrition.
I hope that this article answered your question, does running make you taller? Now that you know the answer, do learn more about the amazing benefits running has to offer today!
Do you have any questions or want to share your comments and insights on how running makes you taller, then comment below! All your thoughts are much appreciated.
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