It’s no secret that being short can affect every aspect of your life. You see evidence of disparities between short and tall people every day, everywhere you go. You can also look to history for evidence highlighting the perks of height: tall people were better respected and received preferential treatment in their communities. The Height Lengthening clinic can help you live out your dreams of being taller. While you contemplate the height lengthening procedure, check out these seven common myths about height and the truth behind them.

Myth #1: Height Is Solely Determined by Genetics

The Truth: Genetics are only responsible for a percentage of your height. Having short parents or grandparents does not necessarily mean one is destined for shortness. Genes only provide a blueprint and have a large influence on the outcome. Many other factors come into play that can cause you to grow taller or shorter than expected, such as overall health, childhood and adult environmental conditions, lifestyle, and nutrition. For example, children who are raised in stressful, less-than-ideal conditions, malnourished, obese, or lack adequate rest generally fall short of their adult height potential.

Myth #2: Growth Stops After Puberty

The Truth: Before and during puberty, height increases as the growth plates in the bones become more mature. As puberty ends, the growth plates fuse together and stop producing new bone tissue. This doesn’t mean that growth stops completely, it just slows down dramatically. Boys tend to experience puberty and stop growing much later than girls. Once adulthood is reached, the average person doesn’t experience a noticeable increase in height. However, some adults, due to childhood malnourishment or premature birth or other delays, tend to be late-bloomers and gain additional height during early adulthood.

Myth #3: Height Doesn’t Impact Earning Capacity

The Truth: Taller people earn more money than their shorter counterparts. It’s true, but not always. Though there are plenty of vertically challenged individuals who make good money, height does have an impact on overall career and income potential. Height gives people more confidence, commands more respect, and offers more leadership opportunities that usually result in more earning power. Many employers associate height with education, professionalism, and social prowess. Tall people are more socially adept and use this advantage to increase their earning power because they encounter fewer barriers, challenges, and misconceptions in the workplace and professionally.

Myth #4: Short People Are Less Attractive

The Truth: Have you ever thought about how fast the heads in a room swivel to the tallest person when they enter it? Is their height one of the first characteristics you notice and wonder about? These questions and more are why height is attributed to sexiness and appeal. Tall people are often perceived as more attractive than short people and usually enjoy a greater pool of potential romantic partners to choose from. Being tall is masculine and commands power and respect and establishes dominance. Many women and men find these characteristics highly appealing in relationships.

Myth #5: Caffeine and Nicotine Prevent Height

The Truth: By the time most people reach adulthood, coffee, energy drinks, and even teas are primary and daily sources of motivation. Some individuals may even use tobacco, nicotine, and cigarettes as coping mechanisms for stress. Now that there’s more information readily available about the effects of caffeine and nicotine on the body, there is still some widespread confusion on their effects on growth.

Contrary to popular belief, these products don’t directly affect your height potential when used in moderation. Overindulgence and excessive use, however, do have a slight, indirect negative impact on overall height potential. Caffeine consumed in excess or at the wrong times can interfere with sleep hygiene and overall quality of sleep. If you’re constantly trying to stay awake, you’re not giving your body the proper amount of time it needs to rest and repair itself. Also, nicotine slows down your body’s healing capacity and tissue regeneration processes.

Sleep is when your body recovers, the muscles, and ligaments in your body relax and mend, bone repair and tissue regeneration are at their highest, and the spine loosens up. Caffeine and nicotine don’t necessarily stop you from growing taller, but they can slow down the growth and repair processes considerably.

Myth #6: Height Enhancement Hormones, Supplements, and Aids Increase Height

The Truth: Some people rely on HGH (human growth hormone) and other supplements to grow taller. HGH is a steroid that is normally produced by the pituitary gland and is responsible for childhood growth. The human growth hormone is also responsible for bone, tissue, and muscle repair and fluid and metabolism in all ages. It is not an effective tactic for height increase in adults, though it is widely marketed and used for its other potential benefits.

Shoe lifts, pillows, and alternative height increase aids are effective in helping short people look taller, but they are not permanent. They also have cosmetic limitations that may also affect the confidence of the person using them. For example, using shoe lifts or pillows for a taller stature doesn’t eliminate the drawbacks or some of the negative connotations associated with being short, such as poor self-esteem, low confidence, etc. These height alternatives are not always cost-effective solutions and can hamper the user’s financial capacity.

Myth #7: Exercise and Posture Don’t Affect Height

The Truth: Aging causes the spine to shrink. It is quite common to lose several inches of height by the time one reaches retirement age. The bones and muscles gradually become weaker as tissue regeneration and healing capacity decrease. Also, the side effects of lifestyle, diet, and physical activity can make good posture harder to achieve or maintain. Many older people slump and appear shorter than their actual height.

Exercise was once thought to have no bearing on height. Throughout the years, countless studies show that the right type of physical activity and exercise have positive effects on posture. They help strengthen the spine and support good bone and overall health. Posture is critical to height because it reduces the stress and load on the neck, back, and spine. Good posture and stretching the spine through exercise can increase adult height by up to two centimeters. Exercise and good posture also provide a significant boost to one’s confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.

The height lengthening procedure is a game-changer for those who lack the confidence and life they desire due to personal dissatisfaction with height. It evens the playing field. Call the Height Lengthening Institute at (818) 369-4805 to schedule a consultation to unlock your height potential and transform your life!