How to Grow Taller Naturally

It was in the 7th grade that they both met. Mary was a beautiful girl with a fair complexion and long, blond hair which suited her tall and slim frame to the T. Ted on the other hand, was a chubby-cheeked boy who was quite short for kids his age. Ted always had a huge crush on Mary but he somehow couldn't muster the courage to ask her out. Why? Because he was scared that she would tease him about being too short, just as all the other boys in his class did.

Do you find this situation familiar? Has height (or the lack thereof) gotten in the way of you and your dreams? Has your rather short stature resulted in your self-confidence plunging to a new depth? Are you paying the price for being down to earth? (pun intended). Well, for all of you who wish to grow taller, look no further. Read on to know how to grow taller naturally.

Natural Ways of Getting Taller
When thinking of ways to get taller naturally, always keep in mind three basic principles:

1. exercise
2. healthy diet
3. nutritional supplements

We will have a look at each of these three principles one by one.

How to Grow Taller Naturally through Exercise
There are certain exercises, which when performed in the right manner, do bring about changes in the body which result in you gaining a few centimeters or inches.

Pull Ups: Pull ups are a great way of getting taller naturally. All you need to have is a basic pull up bar. You can either buy one from a sports store or you can build a homemade pull up bar. Start off with two pull ups a day and increase your strength and stamina over a period of time. The daily target is to be able to do 2 sets of 15 pull ups each. Another exercise that you can do using the pull up bar is 'hanging'. As the name suggests, all you have to do is hang from the bar with your arms stretched and your elbows straight. You should swing a little or you can hang in a stationary position for a period of 2 to 3 minutes.

Push Ups: Push ups are beneficial for increasing height because they strengthen the back, side and shoulder muscles which results in improved posture which in turn, translates into a few centimeters' gain in height.

Yoga: Yoga is probably the first thing that short people turn to when they think of different ways to get taller naturally. Certain yoga exercises and asanas are known to exercise the spine and the back muscles of the body which helps in gaining a few inches. The yoga exercises that are commonly performed for this purpose include:

• surya namaskar or the sun salutation exercise
• bhujangasana or the cobra pose
• marjariasana or the cat stretch pose
• dhanurasana
• ustrasana or the camel pose
• chakrasana or the wheel pose
• sarvangasana

Other cardiovascular exercises such as cycling and swimming are also known to contribute towards growth in height.

Increasing Height through Proper Diet
A healthy diet is equally important if you wish to add a few inches to your height. You should follow a diet that is rich in protein, minerals (especially calcium) and vitamin D. Proteins form the basic building blocks of our body so you should ideally have plenty of eggs, chicken and fish which are rich sources of protein. Calcium and vitamin D play an important role in increasing bone mass and in strengthening the bones.

Role of Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements become necessary if your diet proves to be insufficient in providing your body with the amount of nutrients that it needs. There are various protein shakes, health capsules and pills that supply your body with essential nutrients, proteins and minerals in appropriate doses. However, nutritional supplements should be taken only after consulting your doctor or a dietitian.

An all-round balanced diet can, in conjunction with the above exercises help you to gain those vital inches that you have been longing for. Growing tall does, to a certain extent, depend on your genetics as well. So even if you do not manage to become a six footer, always remember, good things come in small packages!