Growth Tips

Your child nails a high kick in a martial arts class. You clap, impressed by their strength and focus. Then a thought sneaks in, “Is this actually helping them grow taller?” That question — whether martial arts can support a child’s height — is more common than you might think. With over 3.9 million Americans practicing martial arts every year, many parents are asking the same thing.

Intermittent fasting (IF) isn’t just some fringe health hack anymore—it’s everywhere. Teenagers on TikTok, young lifters in gyms, even high school athletes are experimenting with 16:8 schedules or skipping breakfast altogether in the name of getting lean fast. But as someone who's spent two decades navigating health trends (and the occasional gray area), I have to ask the question no one’s talking about: what does this mean for growth during puberty?

Can gym workouts actually make you taller? It’s one of those questions that just keeps coming up—usually somewhere between freshman year of high school and the first serious bench press. You’ve probably heard the myths: lifting stunts growth, stretching adds inches, or that a "grow taller gym workout" is all it takes. In the U.S., where athleticism and body image are practically woven into teenage identity—especially if you're playing football under Friday night lights or chasing fitness goals before college—height becomes this unspoken obsession.

You’ve probably heard it before—“sugar stunts growth.” But is it true? For many parents, it’s a genuine concern. When your child hits a growth spurt—or doesn’t—it’s natural to wonder if something in their diet might be holding them back. Growth stunting, to be clear, means a child isn’t reaching their expected height range based on genetics, and that can be triggered by more than just poor nutrition. But sugar, in particular, keeps coming up in the conversation—and not without reason.

You ever hear someone say “Don’t do calisthenics or you’ll stop growing”? It’s one of those gym-class rumors that somehow made it out of middle school and into the mouths of half the internet. And sure, on the surface, it sounds believable—you're using your own bodyweight, putting pressure on your bones, maybe even hitting failure sets as a teen. But here’s the thing: when you dig into the actual science—like, how growth plates work, or what triggers real stunting—it paints a totally different picture.

Oranges are a staple in many kitchens—nutritious, delicious, and easy to enjoy. Chances are, you or your kids might snack on one or two oranges a day without a second thought. But have you ever wondered how good this citrus fruit really is? For instance, can daily oranges support height growth? And how can you maximize every bite’s benefits?

Here’s how to get the most of them for your family.

From the womb to the teen years, the body relies on oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to grow properly. But smoking cigarettes interferes with all three. Teens who smoke too early may unknowingly limit their full height potential, while babies born to mothers who smoke often arrive underweight or smaller than average. Even secondhand smoke has been linked to subtle but measurable reductions in growth.

Many people believe that jumping exercises like jumping rope or playing basketball can help kids and teens grow taller. It’s a claim that shows up in conversations, online videos, and even well-meaning advice from coaches or relatives. But how much of it is true or is it just a myth?

You’ve heard that protein is great for building muscle, and many believe a high-protein diet can add extra inches in height during growing years. But can it actually help your child grow taller? If you’re a parent worried about your child’s height or a teen hoping to hit your growth spurt, you’re not alone. Let’s break down what science says about protein and height growth, and how to make the most of it.