Top 10 Vegetables That Help You Grow Taller

The minerals and vitamins found in certain vegetables may help add a few inches to your height.

Medically reviewed by Tracy Tredoux, DipION, mBANT, CNHC, AFMCP
Written by Tanya Choudhary, B.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition
Edited by Arshiya Syeda, BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma
Fact-checked by Moksha Gandhi, BPharm, Certified Health & Wellness Coach  • 

It is known that one’s height is dependent on one’s genes. But, at times, people may not even be able to reach their ideal height. One major cause could be imbalanced nutrition. The good news, however, is that there are some vegetables that may help you grow taller. To some extent, including certain vegetables in your diet may help in the proper secretion of hormones and balance the vital nutrients that may promote growth.

A study conducted on 553 children found that boys with higher consumption of fruit and vegetables faced an increase in height at the preschool level by an increase of 1.3 cm and at the school entry level of 2.4 cm when compared to boys with low intake of fruits and vegetables.

However, one should always remember that the body reaches its maximum height by the teen years. That said, a well-balanced diet loaded with different varieties of vegetables might help boost one’s overall health and confidence too. This article discusses the different vegetables you can include in your diet that may promote growth. Continue reading further.

What Vegetables Can Help You Grow Taller?

Some of the vegetables that help you to increase your height naturally, even though you have passed your growing up years, are as follows:

1. Rhubarb

Image: IStock

Rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial plant which grows from thick and short rhizomesi  XAn underground plant stem that grows horizontally and can produce the shoot and root of a plant while staying below the soil. . These plants are considered as fruits in the United States. These plants can be cooked as main dishes and also consumed as deserts. Consumption of this particular plant helps the body fight diabetes (1). It stimulates the secretion of growth hormones in the body thus helping it grow taller.

2. Collard Greens

Image: Shutterstock

Collard greens are a part of the Acephala group mainly found in the United States, Brazil and Portugal. These are very nutritional plants. It contains vitamin C, vitamin K, soluble fiber and some anti-cancer properties (2), (3). Consuming these may also help in increasing height.

protip_icon Quick Tip
You may replace collard greens with lettuce to include in your diet to improve your height. You may make wraps with it, add it to soups, or try it as a fresh salad base.

3. Spinach

Image: Shutterstock

Spinach is a green edible vegetable which is found mostly in the southern parts of Asia. It is very nutritional and contains calcium, vitamins, iron, and fiber that are essential for the proper functioning of the body (4). These nutrients are also important for proper growth of the body.

4. Turnip

Image: Shutterstock

Turnips are grown mostly in the temperate regions of the world but nowadays they are found worldwide. This pretty vegetable contains vitamins, fiber, proteins, fat and cholesterol (5). Turnip contributes to overall dietary calcium intake, resulting in improved bone health (6). This may help increase height.

5. Okra

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Okra is a flowering plant. The common names for okra are lady’s fingers, gumbo or bhindi. The vegetable of this plant is very gooey that functions as a laxativei  XMedicine to treat constipation and used if lifestyle changes, such as increasing the amount of fiber in your diet have not helped. . It is very nutritional and contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, water, and fiber (7). These nutrients work to coax the growth hormones in the body out of their slumber and help the body grow vertically!

6. Beans

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Beans are very nutritional vegetables. They contain nutrition such as vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, folate, and fiber (8). Consumption of green beans may help in increasing your height as they contain high amounts of proteins (9).

7. Broccoli

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Broccoli is an edible plant belonging to the cabbage family. It is very nutritional and contains vitamins C, various fibers, and iron (10). Consuming broccoli helps to maintain a healthy diet and proper functioning of the body and may improve height due to the presence of vitamin K and other nutrients (11).

8. Peas

Image: Shutterstock

These round shaped green vegetables are very nutritional and may help in the growth of a person. They contain proteins, vitamins, fiber, luteini  XNaturally occurring carotenoid (the orange, yellow and red pigment in plants) abundant in green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. , and minerals that are known to aid in height growth (12).

9. Brussels Sprouts

Image: Shutterstock

Brussels sprouts belong to the cabbage family. They contain anti-cancer properties as well as vitamins, minerals, protein, iron, fiber, etc. (13), (14). All these work together to boost the body’s growth hormones and kick them into action.

10. Bok Choy

Image: Shutterstock

Bok Choy is Chinese cabbage, which is rich in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc. (15). Like all the other vegetables listed here, bok choy too stimulates the body’s growth hormones and helps it to gain height.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Since you can eat both the stalk and leaves of bok choy, you can add this vegetable to soups or stir fry. You can use bok choy leaves in salads and sandwiches as well.

Keep reading for a sample diet plan to learn how to incorporate these healthy veggies into your meal plan.

Diet Plan To Increase Height

Day 1:

  • Breakfast: Spinach and cheese omelet, whole-grain toast, and a glass of milk.
  • Lunch: Chicken or tofu stir-fry with broccoli and brown rice.
  • Snack: Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and mixed berries.
  • Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and a side of steamed asparagus.

Day 2:

  • Breakfast: Oatmeal with sliced bananas and a handful of almonds.
  • Lunch: Lentil soup and a quinoa salad with mixed vegetables.
  • Snack: Nuts and dried fruits.
  • Dinner: Grilled chicken breast with sweet potato and a side of sautéed bok choy.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Whole-grain pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and a glass of milk.
Lunch: Tuna salad with mixed greens, and whole-grain crackers.
Snack: A smoothie with spinach, banana, and almond milk.
Dinner: Baked cod with brown rice and steamed Brussels sprouts.

Stay hydrated through the day and get enough exercise and sleep alongside this diet. Consult a nutritionist for personalized guidance.

Infographic: 10 Vegetables You Should Eat To Grow Taller

Height is influenced by several factors such as environment, genes, activities, etc. Among these, nutrition plays an important role in supporting the growth and development of the musculoskeletal system. That is why it is essential to be mindful of what you eat (or not) if you want to grow tall. Check out the infographic below for 10 vegetables that can help you gain height.

10 vegetables you should eat to grow tall (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Every individual reaches their maximum height during the teen years, and their genetics play a key role in determining their height. However, some may not be able to grow as tall as they could due to poor nutrition. Luckily, eating vegetables that help you grow taller, like rhubarb, is certainly the best bet as they stimulate growth hormones in the body. The vegetables listed above, like collard greens, spinach, turnip, okra, beans, etc., are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and macronutrients that make them highly nutritious. Apart from the above listed vegetables, you may also include sweet potatoes, asparagus, celery, beets, radishes, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumber, artichokes, yams, lotus root, bamboo shoots, and seaweed in your diet. Leafy greens like cabbage, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and arugula may also help with increasing height. So, include them in your diet and witness the results for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can eggs make me taller?

Eggs are nutrient-rich and are excellent sources of protein, calcium, vitamin B, vitamin A, and iron. Therefore, they may help increase your height when coupled with the right exercise routine. Also, in a study, regularly eating eggs (apart from milk) was found to contribute to increased monthly height gains (16).

Do carrots increase height?

Carrot is a multi-nutritional food source and is rich in natural bioactive compounds and alpha and beta carotenes (17). Studies often link intake of beta-carotene to better height and weight ratio and decreased morbidity rate (18), (19).

What is a growth spurt? How do you trigger a growth spurt?

The growth spurt is the period of time when the person starts growing faster than usual. It usually happens during infancy and adolescence. Consuming nutritious food, indulging in proper physical activity, and maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits may help trigger a growth spurt.

Key Takeaways

  • Spinach and kale are rich in calcium, vitamins, and iron which are essential for growth.
  • Collard greens contain vitamin C and fiber, which may help in increasing your height.
  • Okras and Brussel sprouts are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, which stimulate the growth hormone and help in growing taller.

Learn how to incorporate nutritious veggies into your diet for maximum growth potential. Watch the video below today to discover the top 5 vegetables that can help you grow taller!

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. The Effects of Rhubarb for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy in Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8226322/
  2. Brassicaceae-Derived Anticancer Agents: Towards a Green Approach to Beat Cancer
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7146209/
  3. Collards raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170406/nutrients
  4. Spinach raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168462/nutrients
  5. Turnip greens raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170061/nutrients
  6. Bone Health
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3445243/
  7. Okra raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169260/nutrients
  8. Beans pinto mature seeds raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175199/nutrients
  9. Early life height and weight production functions with endogenous energy and protein inputs
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5001437/
  10. Broccoli raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170379/nutrients
  11. Vitamin K and Bone
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5726210/
  12. Peas green raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170419/nutrients
  13. Brassica vegetables and cancer prevention. Epidemiology and mechanisms
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10736624/
  14. Brussel sprouts raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170383/nutrients
  15. Cabbage chinese (pak-choi) raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170390/nutrients
  16. Child height gain is associated with consumption of animal-source foods in livestock-owning households in Western Kenya
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5233559/
  17. Phytochemicals in Daucus carota and Their Health Benefits-Review Article
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31546950/
  18. Determinants of growth among poor children: nutrient intake-achieved growth relationships
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7223704/
  19. Protein and Micronutrient Intakes Are Associated with Child Growth and Morbidity from Infancy to Adulthood in the Philippines
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26661837/
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